Throwback Ad Thursday: Evangelion Mass Production-Type Figure

April 2003 welcomed the release of Kaiyodo's EVA Mass Production Type figures. These were the same model EVA that appeared in 1997's End of Evangelion film. According to the Previews listing back in the day, the figure would stand 7" tall, have poseable wings, multiple points of articulation, and include variant hands and weapons.

Throwback Ad Tuesday! Dragon Ball GT: A Hero's Legacy

A Hero's Legacy was a Dragon Ball GT television special that aired in Japan on March 26th, 1997. Funimation released the DVD in the US on November 16th, 2004. I originally watched this forty-five minute special several years before Funimation licensed the GT series, by way of a friend's fan-subbed VCD (remember those?).

Magazine Monday: Animerica (January 2003)

 

Animerica paid homage to both Robotech and Macross in their January 2003 issue. The cover story, titled "What Robotech Means to Me," is a great two-page retrospective looking back on the Robotech phenomenon and how it was embraced by viewers when upon first airing in North America back in 1985. Written by Patrick Macias (now editor-in-chief of Otaku USA), the article is a fast, but fun, read that captures the excitement and wonder of how uniquely different Robotech was at the time, particularly in comparison to the other animated shows on American television. 

Throwback Ad Thursday: Death Note Vol. 1 DVD

 

Viz released the first DVD volume of Death Note on November 20th, 2007. Fans could either get the single DVD version, which contained the initial four episodes, or a special edition that included a figure of the shinigami Ryuk, which was limited to 15,000 copies. 

Wasteland Wednesday: The Bizarre World of Bootlegs (Part III)

MACROSS: DO YOU REMEMBER LOVE BOOTLEG DVD

This is an interesting one. It has the original Japanese track, as well as an English dub (not the same dub used on Celebrity Home Entertainment's Clash of the Bionoids!). I usually don't mind dubs, but this one's terrible beyond words. 

Throwback Ad Tuesday! InuYasha: A Feudal Fairy Tale PS1

Developed by Dimps and published by Bandai, InuYasha: A Feudal Fairy Tale was released in Japan for the original PlayStation in December 2002. The was brought over to the US in April 2003.

Throwback Ad Thursday: Ninja Gaiden Statues

Kotobukiya released two Ninja Gaiden PVC statues in 2004 of Ryu Hayabusa and Ayane. I've seen these in person a few times at conventions and both are very well detailed, plus they're not that small, with Ryu standing at 13" and Ayane at 11 1/2". I've seen the Ryu statue easily go for $100 and over on eBay, while Ayane fetches prices well under $50 (maybe because she's wearing too much clothing here?).

Wasteland Wednesday: Lupin III The Mystery of Mamo VHS

 

The Mystery of Mamo was the first animated film in the Lupin III series. Originally released in Japan under the title Lupin III in 1978, it was later renamed Lupin III: Lupin vs. the Clones to differentiate it among the numerous other films starring the title character. However, by the time the feature made it to VHS in the US, Streamline Pictures and Orion Home Video opted for the title The Mystery of Mamo.

Throwback Ad Tuesday: Welcome to the N.H.K.

Watching Welcome to the N.H.K. was an interesting experience. I went into the show having very little knowledge about the plot, made it through most of the first episode, and decided it 'wasn't for me' and that was it. Months later, for some reason, I decided to give the show another try and, by episode 2, I was hooked. It's truly a spectacular show and insanely addicting. I never marathon shows, but I breezed through the 24-episode anime in no time. The dysfunctional characters, with all of their flaws, are so interesting and the plot so captivating that you can't help but get invested in the unfolding drama.

Gameday Sunday: Dead or Alive Paradise (PSP)

With the imminent release of Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 (though, sadly, not a US release), I thought it fitting to look back on one of the more forgotten DOA titles, Dead or Alive Paradise for the PSP.

Friday Review! Agent Aika

Agent Aika is an odd OVA series. Where visuals are concerned, the production values are remarkably high with slick, vibrant animation that still holds up well today. Unfortunately, with all that effort given to the aesthetic design, the creators of the show forgot to include much in the way of character or plot.

Throwback Ad Thursday: Viz Exclusive Primagraphies

Strictly for the die-hard collector with very deep pockets, in 2003 Viz offered large limited edition art prints of Fushigi Yugi and Revolutionary Girl Utena, signed and numbered by Yu Watase and Chiho Saito, respectively. These already-framed art prints were limited to 150 copies each and cost a whopping $300 per piece. Viz referred to these as "primagraphies" but, upon looking the word up on Google, I'm left wondering if they just invented the term themselves.

Throwback Ad Tuesday: ADV Films

 

A magazine advertisement circa early 2000 promoting ADV Films' latest releases including New Cutey Honey, Dirty Pair Flash, and 801 T.T.S. Airbats.

Magazine Monday: Animerica's Gundam Official Guide

 

Every now and then, something will come along that's undeniably impressive. The Gundam Official Guide is one of those impressive things. Published by Viz under their Animerica banner, the guide was released in March 2002 at the affordable price of only $12.95. It was worth every penny back in 2002, and it's still worth the investment now, especially since they still sell cheap on eBay.

Throwback Ad Thursday: Ranma 1/2 Statues

In 2002 Viz offered two Ranma 1/2 statues featuring the title character, one in his regular boy form (standing at 8 1/2") and the other in his girl transformation (8"), priced at $69.95 each. While there's been no shortage of Ranma related statues and figures released throughout the years (including the fantastic S.H. Figuarts edition) these particular ones have become increasingly hard to find, even on eBay.

Wasteland Wednesday! Sailor Moon: A Scout is Born (Novel)

Sailor Moon: A Scout is Born was published in April 1999 by TokyoPop's Mixx Entertainment/Smile Books imprint. This was the first of eight Sailor Moon novels, and the backstory behind the book series is more interesting than one might at first guess.

Throwback Ad Tuesday: Mobile Suit Gundam Official Guide

The Mobile Suit Gundam Official Guide was heavily promoted in the pages of Animerica magazine back in early 2002. I'll have a more detailed write-up on the actual book with some more pictures on Monday.