Happily Ever After

Based on the popular comic strip, Happily Ever After depicts the quotidian misadventures of Yukie and Isao. An odd couple, Yukie is the timid, devoted housewife to the laconic, moody Isao. What’s worse, she has apparently married down; at least that’s what her friends keep whispering. Isao is not simply a temperamental man, but unemployed yakuza!

Phantom Master

2009 Movie. Director: Joji Shimura. 90 minutes. DVD, bilingual, $19.98. Distributor: Funimation

The land of Jushin is all but a memory, fractured into numerous kingdoms run by corrupt tyrants. Once the Amen Osa, magic wielding warriors charged with upholding justice, kept the peace. But when the king was assassinated, they too disappeared. Or did they?

Pangya

PSP, 1-8 players, Publisher: TOMY.

On Pangya Island you’re not just playing an ordinary round of 18 holes. This hidden treasure offers inter-dimensional golf. That’s right. Whether you want to play the back 9 on a wave-washed course, or test your skills on ice, Pangya has a course for you. Oh, and let’s not forget the 18 fully customizable, anime-esque characters. As you progress, and if you so choose, you might find yourself chipping balls in Bermuda shorts or even a bikini!

Martial Hearts

Aya Iseshima seems to be your typical Japanese schoolgirl. She has all the standard accoutrements: beauty, humor, good friends, and a great mom. However, Aya is also a martial arts master. After using her skills to save an innocent life, she finds herself forced into an underground tournament called The Master of the Martial Hearts.  

Nabari

The warring states period and the age of the samurai may have ended long ago, but the ninja are alive and kicking, working in the shadows. They call their world “Nabari.” And the men and women of Iga are at war amongst themselves to control it. Unfortunately, all hope rests with Miharu Rokujou, a teenager more interested in running a restaurant than the fact that a secret art, one containing all ninja knowledge, resides inside him. 

March Story

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will release the supernatural manga (graphic novel) series MARCH STORY on October 19^th. The latest addition to the VIZ Signature imprint, by Hyung Min Kim with artwork by Kyung Il Yang, is rated ‘M’ for Mature readers.

For those already tapped into the streaming vein of PlayStation Network, anime is definitely on its Christmas list. Here’s the latest post from my friends at PSN. And, evidently, this is only a small part of the 12-day promotion.  

Mecha Mania

If assessing and analyzing four decades of anime mecha is your thing, then you need to be in San Francisco this weekend.

Robotech

Unfortunately there is nothing of great importance to report here. As much as I love Steve Yun and Tommy Yune, who are largely responsible for reinvigorating Robotech and its legacy through the Shadow Chronicles, the panel at Comic-Con 09 was reminiscent of last year’s.