Posts Tagged ‘central park media’

Among all the excitement generated by Media Blasters yesterday, there was a second piece of news that kind of fell through the cracks. Central Park Media News reported that during a visit to the Media Blasters store, he was told that Media Blasters had rescued the Record of Lodoss War OVA and TV series and would be releasing them as one set.

Well, I sent an email over to Media Blasters last night and can now say that for once, the internet wasn’t lying: Media Blasters has rescued Record of Lodoss War but they have no release date as of this writing. One of the most epic fantasy series of the last couple of decades, the first OVA series was produced by Madhouse in 1990 before AIC took the reins for a TV series in 1998. Both sets were originally released in the US by Central Park Media in 1998 and 2003 respectively so it’s amazing to me that someone is giving this one a second life.

While I always say that I’m a member of the Sailor Moon generation of anime fans, Record of Lodoss War was one of the first anime I saw as a kid that I knew was from Japan and one of the first true sparks to what would become my future obsession… err, subject to write about constantly… I mean, ah screw it! I never got a chance to add this one to my collection so this is a release that I’m really going to look forward to picking up!

Anyone else have fond memories of this series? For me all my happy memories are of the elf Deedlit and the absolutely gorgeous opening themes in anime history (Kiseki no Umi sung by Maaya Sakamoto) attached to the TV series. In fact, let’s watch that OP right now all together and bask in this moment

<Image via Pixiv>

Have you ever wanted to get into the anime industry? Tired of companies “butchering” classic titles over and over? Well now is your chance to do better! All you have to do is pull out a few thousand dollars and you can own your own real life anime license! Alright, so it’s not a brand new shiny license but you can’t have everything right away right?

Earlier today it was reported that MYC & Associates have been given the task of liquidating what remains of Central Park Media’s assets. This includes a long list of anime titles that Central Park Media no longer owns the permanent copyrights to:

    * A-Ko the Versus

    * Adventure Kid

    * Agent Aika 

    * Akai Hayate

    * Angel Sanctuary

    * Animated Classics of Japanese Literature

    * Area 88

    * Ariel

    * Ariel Deluxe

    * Armored Trooper Votoms

    * Art of Fighting

    * Ayane’s High Kick

    * Battle Arena Toshinden

    * Battle Skipper

    * Big Wars

    * Birdy the Mighty

    * Black Jack

    * La Blue Girl

    * La Blue Girl Returns

    * Blue Sonnet

    * Botchan

    * Crystal Triangle

    * Cyber City Oedo 808

    * Cybernetics Guardian

    * Dancougar – Super Beast Machine God

    * Dark Angel

    * Darkside Blues

    * Demon Beast Invasion

    * Demon City Shinjuku

    * Demon Warrior Koji

    * Descendants of Darkness

    * Detonator Orgun

    * DNA²

    * Dog Soldier: Shadows of the Past

    * Dominion Tank Police

    * Dream Hazard

    * Explorer Woman Ray

    * Fencer of Minerva

    * Fobia

    * Four Play

    * Gall Force – Eternal Story

    * Gall Force 2 – Destruction

    * Gall Force 3 – Stardust War

    * Gall Force: Earth Chapter

    * Gall Force: New Era

    * Garaga

    * Garzey’s Wing

    * Genocyber

    * Geobreeders 

    * Grappler Baki

    * Grave of the Fireflies

    * Hades Project Zeorymer

    * Harlock Saga

    * Harmagedon

    * Here is Greenwood

    * The Heroic Legend of Arslan

    * The Humanoid

    * Hyper Speed GranDoll

    * Iczer 3

    * Iria – Zeiram the Animation

    * Judge

    * Knights of Ramune

    * Lady Blue

    * Legend of Himiko

    * Legend of Lemnear

    * Love Lessons

    * Lunatic Night

    * Machine Robo: Revenge of Chronos

    * Mama Mia!

    * Mask of Zeguy

    * Masquerade

    * Maze

    * M.D. Geist

    * MD Geist II – Death Force

    * Metal Fighter Miku

    * Midnight Panther

    * My My Mai

    * Mystery of the Necronomicon

    * Night on the Galactic Railroad

    * Night Shift Nurses

    * Nightmare Campus

    * Nightwalker

    * Now and Then, Here and There

    * Odin – Starlight Mutiny

    * Ogenki Clinic

    * Patlabor The Mobile Police

    * Patlabor The Mobile Police: The New Files

    * Peacock King

    * Photon: The Idiot Adventures

    * Ping Pong Club Anime

    * Private Psycho Lesson News

    * Professor Pain Network

    * Project A-Ko

    * Project A-Ko 2: Plot of the Daitokuji Financial Group

    * Project A-ko 3: Cinderella Rhapsody

    * Project A-Ko 4: Final

    * Pure Love

    * Record of Lodoss War

    * Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight

    * Revolutionary Girl Utena

    * RG Veda

    * Rhea Gall Force

    * Roots Search

    * Roujin Z

    * Rumik World: Fire Tripper

    * Rumik World: Maris the Chojo

    * Rumik World: Mermaid Forest

    * Rumik World: The Laughing Target

    * Shamanic Princess

    * Silent Service

    * Sins of the Sisters

    * The Slayers

    * Sohryuden – Legend of the Dragon Kings

    * The Sound of Waves

    * Spaceship Agga Ruter

    * Sprite: Between Two Worlds

    * Stepmother’s Sin

    * Strange Love

    * Takegami – Guardian of Darkness

    * They Were 11

    * Tokyo Babylon

    * TriAngle

    * Twin Angels

    * Ultimate Teacher

    * Urotsukidoji 

    * Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend

    * Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer

    * Venus 5

    * The Venus Wars

    * Virgin Fleet

    * Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer

    * Wanna-Be’s

    * A Wind Named Amnesia

    * Yotoden

    * Yu Yu Hakusho The Movie: Poltergeist Report

    * Zenki

 

Keep in mind that Darkside Blues, Grave of the Fireflies, M.D. Geist., and Now and Then, Here and There have all been snatched up by ADV for release this summer so those are out. But everything else is still fair game! So, who do you think should pick up what? Funimation picking up Yu Yu Hakusho the Movie seems like a no brainer at some point; the long running and popular series Urusei Yatsura, Revolutionary Girl Utena and Record of Lodoss War strike me as other titles that will be re-released at some point as well. Maybe someday someone will pick up Project A-Ko (but let’s not lose our minds here). Some of these titles really may disappear into anime obscurity though! La Blue Girl? Angel Sanctuary? Harlock Saga?

Then again, Virgin Fleet is also included on the list proving that some titles were just meant to disappear into obscurity.

I actually got this yesterday afternoon but just couldn’t get it posted in time; ADV has picked up another Central Park Media title. This time the title in question is ‘Darkside Blues’, a graphic, psychological drama movie originally produced by JC Staff in 1994. It eventually got its American release from CPM in 2007. As others have pointed out, ADV did say that they were going to be revealing a ton of new licenses in the near future but is this really it?

I missed this one when it was first released but it sounds interesting I suppose. A corporation named Persona owns 99% of the planet and rules with an iron fist. A resistance group is forming in a free city outside Tokyo and is soon joined by Darkside; a mystic who has gained a new power after being locked in an alternate dimension for 18 years by Persona. ADV will be releasing the movie on August 18^th and is already available for preorder.

So ADV Nation is reporting what I couldn’t get from ADV itself which is interesting. Anyways, for those who are waiting patiently for ADV to release Central Park Media license rescues in July, there is new information to be had.  At Anime Boston it was revealed (more that I failed to catch, sorry everyone!) that the World of Narue re-release will not have any video errors that were present on the original release.

In terms of the extras present on the original releases, most of them are going to remain intact. Pretty much all of the extras are going to remain where they were on the previous releases with few exceptions. World of Narue will be missing its commentary tracks, Grave of the Fireflies will have most of its extras barring an art gallery and Now and Then, Here and There will have everything left as is.

All four titles will be released at various dates throughout July: Now and Then, Here and There (7/7), Grave of the Fireflies (7/7), World of Narue (7/21) and MD Geist (7/28).

In news concerning recent ADV license rescues ‘World of Narue‘, ‘Now and Then, Here and There’, ‘Grave of the Fireflies’ and ‘MD Geist’ Chris Oarr recently answered some questions via email. When asked about the upcoming releases and if they will be re-dubbed by ADV, Oarr said “We are not redubbing any of that material.” He also stated that he is unsure on if the ‘Now and Then, Here and There’ bonus disc that contained behind the scenes footage originally released by CPM will be included with the ADV re-release. All four titles will be shipping at various dates in July.

Meanwhile, ADV Nation put up a post earlier today regarding statements from ADV representative Janice Williams on the upcoming re-release of the Geneon title ‘Appleseed‘ later this year. In the post, Williams states that ADV will be correcting the audio issues that plagued the original release. In the original release, a number of sound issues were detected by users which included bad audio mixes among other things. The ADV release will street on June 30th.

Wow, you go to work and look what you miss out on? ADV had a big day today by quietly listing a number of new licenses to retail outlets such as Right Stuf. On top of the original Appleseed OVA revealed recently, ADV has rescued a number of titles from now bankrupt distributor Central Park Media. The four titles in question are: World of Narue, Now and Then, Here and There, MD Geist and Grave of the Fireflies. All four of these titles were released by CPM within the last decade and most have earned spots on many critics all time top ten lists. Of all titles for ADV to rescue from CPM, these four are probably the safest choices for hits.

Pre Sales on the sets have already begun with the following release dates being announced:

Now and Then, Here and There – 7/7
Grave of the Fireflies – 7/7
World of Narue – 7/21
MD Geist – 7/28

So, what does this mean for you? In real terms it means that ADV has made a great move by swooping in and saving these titles. While I’m not familiar with MD Geist, the other three are possibly three of my top favorite titles to be released by CPM when they were still solvent. I have an email out to ADV to see if I can get more details regarding the various sets and will update this post with any updates I may get.

	Record Of Lodoss War Released By: Image Entertainment OVA TV

	Munto Released By: Central Park Media Munto Munto 2

	Now and Then, Here and There Released By: Central Park Media   Complete Collection From Amazon Complete Collection From Right Stuf   Vol. 1 Vol. 2 Vol. 3

Purchase From Amazon

Shadow Star Narutaru Vol. 3 Released By: CPM Released: 9/13/05 Reviewed: 2/16/05 Related Reviews Rated: 16+

 

NOTE: This review is a continuation of my reviews of this series. If you have not seen any of the volumes or my previous reviews, you risk spoilers by continuing.
 
Intro
 
        This anime just keeps getting weirder and weirder.
 
The Story       
 
        The angel attacks where the military is stationed. The angel is packing some serious ammunition though, is tough enough to withstand everything that is thrown at it without even blinking an eye and still manages to completely destroy those who are trying to take her down. That’s not all though as a Shiina’s dragon child, Hoshimaru, discovers an odd flower down on the ground releases a poison that kills all personnel on the ground. More back up is called in and more goes down leaving Shiina and Akira (protected by Hoshimaru), to watch it happen.
 
        In the second episode, Akira is missing school again and both Shiina and the mysterious Sudo come calling on her at home to find her sitting alone in her bedroom, folding paper cranes for all the fallen soldiers that she saw die on the battle field. Shiina wants to invite her to the gym but Sudo has come to do the same and invites Shiina along in the process… though instead of the gym, they go fishing instead.
       
        In the final episode of the volume Shiina is out late with Hoshimaru one night trying to learn how to connect with him like Akira can connect with hers but while she’s out, a woman named Jun flies by and after a short discussion, offers to show Shiina the future. So off they fly together across Tokyo Bay to Chiba to see a dragon.
 
        The next day Shiina goes with her father to the hospital for his follow up exam and while she’s there she sees a picture of a kid in front of the school that she and the girl visited the night before. She finds out that he’s in a coma in the hospital and meets another girl who was friends with Jun. 
       
The Good And The Bad
       
        Since volume one, I’ve been less than impressed with this series and this volume really doesn’t do much to win me over again. The biggest complaint that I find myself constantly making about this series is that it just feels like it’s trying to tell too many stories half heartedly, either that or it’s trying to tell one story and doing a very bad job of it.
 
        Every single time I watch a volume of this series, I always walk away from it trying to figure out what I just saw and how it all fits with the big picture. With so many people coming into the scene on every volume and expressing thoughts and words that seem very anti-heroish it’s very hard to tell who are the good guys and who are the bad guys or even if there is some kind of neutral line in the middle that I’m supposed to be seeing.
 
        The animation continues to be slightly inconsistent with it’s approach. Some scenes are absolutely stunning and some seem very ordinary and plain. I do wish that there could be some consistency somewhere in this anime, if not in the animation than maybe in the story or the characters.
 
Music
 
        The opening and closing themes still boggle my mind on why they were chosen for this particular anime. The background comes through loud and clear though with it’s dark, dramatic themes that really score perfectly in some of the more tense battle scenes.
 
Dub vs. Sub
 
        With writing like this, it’s hard to tell which track is better. You really can’t go right or wrong with either track but if you’re looking for a standout performance, listen for Lisa Ortiz as Jun in the final episode of the volume. I have no idea if this character is going to be a one off character or a recurring character but I’ll be looking for her again in the future.
 
Extras
 
        There are a few extras on this volume including an art gallery, storyboards and character art along with four US trailers. Nothing particularly special on this volume.
 
Overall
 
        With every single episode that passes, this anime continues to confuse me more and more with it’s constant back and forth action between characters and it’s refusal to really elaborate on who are the real bad guys and what are their motives and who are the neutral guys and who are the good guys. So far the only ones that I’ve really been able to really pick out are Shiina and Akira being on the good side but sometimes I even wonder about Akira.
 
        This isn’t so much a bad anime so much as it’s really just badly executed. I’d like to think that it’s going to get better in the final volume but I’m not feeling incredibly optimistic about that.
 
Final Grade: 79% – C