I have really small anime collection, but not planning on increase my collection.

Hey guys! I posted this at the Blu-ray release thread...

Just got the Shinobi Blu-ray. There is an insert inside that says "Coming to Blu-ray in 2008:
Dragonball Z Double Features - Tree of Might / Lord Slug, Cooler's Revenge / Return of Cooler.
Robotech: Shadow Chronicles
Afro Samurai
Vexille
and more!

I hope this is true. I eagerly await Ghost in the Shell 2 which has already been announced!

Argh, looks like there's some kind of production shutdown, and the ImaginAsian titles are no longer available from Rightstuf (or anywhere else). That includes Cat's Eye, Orguss, and Remi, all older titles. I'm now stuck with a half-filled Orguss collection, so I hope they get this fixed soon...

Kudos to VIZ Media releasing the following Death Boxsets limited to 15,000 each

Ah! My Goddess (TV) Opening Theme: "Open Your Mind"

and

Last Exile Opening Theme: "Cloud Age Symphony"

Does Japan have a America complex? It seems like every interaction with America is negative. Not that shouldn't by the way but I'm just asking. Death Note, American president does something stupid or cowardly. Gantz, giant america breeds evil rant. Helsing, the priest is the bad guy. etc, etc.

Not all anime is that way. Japanese didn't treat America negatively in Zipang, Ghost in the Shell (TV - but they labelled us "America Empire" which is partly true), Nadia, and few others.

It's not like the US doesn't portray other countries in a less-than-favorable light in our tv and movies as well.

The "underdog against the Empire" is a popular theme so it shouldn't really be to surprising considering the political landscape of the last few decades. Americans seem to be a good fit for the latter. But there are quite a few "good" characters who are deliberately described as American in anime as well (Kurz Weber comes to mind from FMP, though his name hardly sounds "American").

I don't know where else to post this, and I figured this was a good a place as any. Would anyone care for the Haruhi Suzumiya pencilboard that came with the Vol. 4 SE? I really don't want it and I'd normally just toss it, but I figured there's enough Haruhi fans out there who might have missed out somehow. PM or email me with your address, first one gets it.

^

Already have it, but I really appreciate the generosity. I'm sure that someone will gratefully take it off of your hands.

Er, Father Anderson is Scottish and a member of the Iscariot Organization, a section of the Vatican. Integra and the rest of the Hellsing troops are English/Protestant. Except for Alucard of course. ^^

Kurz Weber is also German, born in Japan.

I don't think there's any kind of trend in anime to demonize the West, but as someone else mentioned we are the largest power in the world and it makes for an easy target. There are certainly some anime and manga that is politically charged, but I hesitate to say it's a trend in anime in general (you'll see negative portrayals in anime like Gasaraki and early stuff like Dunbine). You'll find many domestic movies and tv shows that parody our own government and especially our president.

In Death Note, it's not like the Japanese government proved to be any more effective than the American president. And as mentioned before, none of the bad guy characters are American, nor are the good guys Japanese (and he's not really the ultimate bad guy anyway).

You saying these are innacurate assessments?

I'd say it's pretty much even if look at the US exploitations of other countries.

But waaait, theeeres mooore...



hehehe

If Samurai 7 is coming out here in the US then I am ALL OVER that. Loved that series and will double dip in a heartbeat.

Has anyone heard if TokyoPop (or anyone else in the U.S.) plans on releasing Initial D's third and fourth stages?

Thanks in advance...

Tokyopop doesn't deal with anime anymore. At this point in time, I don't see anyone else pick the rest of the stages up.

looks like a bootleg...

Hopefully this hasn't been discussed before.....but was just wondering if there was any word if the season series would ever be released in HD? I'm just about to buy Season One on DVD and wanted to be sure before I bought....thanks!

of...?

Sorry my bad lol....of Dragon Ball Z season sets....I noticed that the movies are coming out in Blu-Ray, was just wondering if anyone heard about them.

It may happen in the future, but probably not right now. DBZ is the bread and butter for FUNimation. It simply sells. I'm not sure when they will start releasing season sets in Blu-ray. FUNi is concentrating on releasing Blu-ray release for DBZ movies and a couple other movie features as this point in time.

I have a question about the Ghost in the Shell movies Laughing Man and Individual Eleven. If I have the two seasons, is it necessary for me to buy these movies, or would I just be wasting my money?

Those OVA are basically clips from the TV series. Unless you're a perfectionist, I would pass up on them. Make sure that you have the original Ghost in the Shell Movie. I would wait on Innocence (if you don't have it already). Bandai Ent. will be dubbing this and it will get a Blu-ray (and also DVD) treatment later this year (?). Solid State Society is another must own for Ghost in the Shell fans.