Danger Zone One (Webcomic Trailer)

Check it out at www.DangerZoneOne.com

AMV Videos!

I've always been an AMV fan but, despite having more than a passing interest in video editing, never got around to making my own...until 2014.

I ended up putting together two videos, the first, titled "Mighty Wings of Macross" is below.

And then I did another, with an equally strong '80s vibe, featuring classic anime like Bubblegum Crisis, the original Dirty Pair, Mezzo Forte, Kite, Armitage III, Gunsmith Cats, Cowboy Bebop, and Iria: The Animation. Check 'em out!

Wasteland Wednesday: Dragon Ball Z Arrival

This was the first Dragon Ball Z VHS to be released in the North America via FUNimation and Pioneer. The first several episodes were compiled into an 80 minute feature. This release is really the bridge between the prior Dragon Ball series and what would come later in Z. 

Wasteland Wednesday: Speed Racer VHS

In 1990 VidAmerica, Inc. started to release episodes of Speed Racer onto VHS. These were back in the days of one-episode-per-tape.

Shameless self-promotion time!

I haven't published a new blog post in around a week as I've been a bit busy working on a few other projects. What are these projects, you ask? Webcomics! So get ready for some shameless self-promotion as I tell you about these wonderful projects that you'll surely want to read (I hope).

Throwback Ad Thursday: Manga Video DVDs

With ADV Films, Funimation, Bandai, and all the other anime distributors of the early '00s, it's sometimes easy to forget what a great anime catalog Manga Video had. Despite many of these titles being re-released in recent years, I've still kept a number of the original Manga Video DVD releases, including Castle of Cagliostro, Ghost in the Shell, Ninja Scroll (the 10th anniversary edition), Perfect Blue, Blood: The Last Vampire, and both of the Evangelion films.

Wasteland Wednesday: Lensman Laserdisc

Something of a forgotten anime release, here is the Lensman laserdisc from Streamline Pictures. 

Throwback Ad Tuesday: Robotech Comic Mini-Series (WildStorm)

Harmony Gold partnered with comic publisher WildStorm in 2002 to release a six-issue Robotech mini-series (not counting a special issue #0), titled From the Stars. The series served as a prequel to the anime, but not only contradicted parts of the show, it also retconned elements of the fan-favorite Jack McKinney Robotech novels. WildStorm followed the series up with several other Robotech comics, the most worthwhile being the 2003 Robotech Sourcebook, covering all the main characters and mecha.

Throwback Ad Thursday: GunBuster & Dangaio VHS

They say everything comes with a price, and anime fans were well aware of the price back in the  '90s. 

Wasteland Wednesday: Tenchi Muyo! Book of Earth Laserdisc Set

And here is the Tenchi Muyo! "Book of Earth" LD set, which contains episode 8-13 of the original OVA, along with the Mihoshi Special. Also, included are two pretty neat special features, a video picture book titled, "Here Comes Jurai 2" and an interview with the voice talent.

Throwback Ad Tuesday! Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden

In 2002 Pioneer released six DVD volumes of Mahoromatic: Automatic Maid. In 2007 a complete edition was released by Section23/Sentai, titled Mahoromatic: Full Metal Maid, and another box set arrived in 2012, titled Mahoromatic Ultimate Collection.

Throwback Ad Thursday! Lupin the 3rd: Treasure of the Sorcerer King

Lupin the 3rd: Treasure of the Sorcerer King for the PlayStation 2 holds the distinction of being the only Lupin game ever released in North America. This third-person stealth game allowed the player to don various disguises and continually elude Inspector Zenigata, along with (albeit briefly) playing as Jigen and Goemon. Although suffering from a bit of clunky gameplay, fans of Lupin the 3rd will still find enough to enjoy about this one (a used copy in decent condition will run under $20, and is well worth it).

Throwback Ad Tuesday: Anime Statues

A 2007 magazine ad for Entertainment Earth's then-current selection of anime statues, which included Masane Amaha from Witchblade, Persona 3's Mitsuru Kirijyo, and original characters, Shoko-San (from Shunya Yamashita), and Lucia (from Mitsumi Misato).

Manga Monday: Gundam The Origin

Gundam The Origin is a retelling of the original 1979 anime with a new spin. While the overall manga adheres follows Mobile Suit Gundam, there are noticeable changes, mostly altering when and where certain battles occurred, along with exploring several character's backstory with more depth, particularly Char Aznable's childhood.

Friday Review: The Great Adventure of the Dirty Pair (Novel)

Dirty Pair is best remembered today for its numerous anime incarnations but, prior to appearing on the screen, Kei and Yuri were first brought to life in the pages of Haruka Takachiho's light novel series.

Throwback Ad Thursday: Gantz Perfect Score Collection

Okay, I'm a sucker for unique DVD packaging and in 2007 ADV Films released the complete series of Gantz in an orb-shaped box set, dubbed the "Perfect Score Collection." I never picked up this particular edition myself, due to a number of reviews complaining about the cheap quality of the packaging...which is a shame, because this is surely one of the more interesting anime-related DVD sets out there.

Wasteland Wednesday: Variable Geo VHS

Variable Geo started out as a fighting game in 1993, spawning various sequels on various home computers, along with iterations on the Super Famicom, Sega Saturn, and PlayStation. In 1996 Variable Geo was adapted into a three-episode OVA, which ADV Films released on VHS in 1999.

Throwback Ad Tuesday: FHE Anime Tapes

This vintage 1989 advertisement is an eye-opening reminder of just how much anime used to cost. Released under FHE's (Family Home Entertainment) "Just For Kids" Home Video banner, these tapes were going for $29.95 a pop. Fortunately, the advertisement offered a buy-two-get-one-free deal. Just For Kids released some fairly atrocious English-dubs, but even the dialogue was nothing compared to how much they butchered the films via editing and undue censorship. 

Available at the time were: Battle for Moon Station Dallos, Clash of the Bionoids (the original Macross movie), Defenders of the Vortex, Locke the Superpower, Space Firebird, Techno Police, Space Warriors - Battle for Earth Station S-1.

Throwback Ad Thursday: Gunsmith Cats Manga

Dark Horse published the Gunsmith Cats manga in single issue format between 1995 and 2001, then later collected in a series on nine trade paperbacks. In 2007 these were re-released in four "Revised Edition" omnibus volumes with extra artwork. A sequel, Gunsmith Cats Burst, was also handled by Dark Horse, hitting shelves back in 2007.

Throwback Ad Tuesday: R.O.D. The TV

A spin-off of the 2001 anime OVA, Read or Die, this 26-episode series was originally released in the USA on DVD by Geneon between 2004 and 2005. Aniplex later picked up distribution rights and re-released the series on blu-ray in 2010. As seen in this magazine advertisement, Geneon offered the first volume in a limited edition format, available in a book-style faux-leather cover.