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ANIMATION WORLD MAGAZINE - ISSUE 5.02 - MAY 2000
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Home VideoMiyazaki’s First Film On DVD. Manga Entertainment brings Hayao Miyazaki’s first film to DVD and VHS. The Castle Of Cagliostro is the first film written and directed by anime pioneer and visionary Hayao Miyazaki (Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery Service). Loosely based on French novelist Maurice Leblanc's Arsene Lupin: Gentleman Thief adventure, the film follows Lupin, an underworld version of Sherlock Holmes, who is famous for swindling goods from the rich around the world. First introduced in the late 1960s in a Japanese comic book by Monkey Punch, the character Lupin III is the fictional grandson of LeBlanc's famous Lupin character, a modern-day James Bond. Lupin III adventures became some of Japan's most popular stories with three television series, five movies and numerous made-for-TV movies. The animated movie The Castle Of Cagliostro was the second movie featuring the Lupin character and was originally made in 1979. In addition, a Sony PlayStation game of Cagliostro was released in January 1997. Moreover, film footage was used in an early 1980s laserdisc-based arcade game called Cliffhanger. In the film, Lupin III and his right-hand man, Jigen, travel to the fictional European country of Cagliostro to find the counterfeiter who swindled them. The DVD features digitally re-mastered visuals and sound in letterbox format, and is available in English, Japanese and Japanese with English subtitles. The DVD is priced at US$29.95 and the VHS is $19.95.
Phantom’s A $100m Phenomenon On VHS. One week after The Sixth Sense broke records on video, Phantom Menace doubled the Sense’s first week total in only two days. "VHS is still alive and well, despite reports from others to the contrary," said Fox spokesman Steve Feldstein. Fans of Star Wars were disgruntled over George Lucas’ decision not to release the new installment on DVD. Nonetheless, they were not alienated enough to boycott the VHS release of Episode I. The video has made an estimated US$100 million in just two days and is forecasted to reach $200 million in its first week in release. The estimated figures for the videos total gross are about $350 million, which would launch the home release past Fox’s Independence Day as the second largest-selling live-action title of all time, behind Titanic. When released in May 1999 in the States, Phantom grossed a record breaking $102.7 million in its first five days in theatres. The video release will easily make that much in only three days.
Main Street Dates: Dragoon descended onto video. Sedon finds the beautiful May unconscious in the snow and that’s when this young swordsman’s troubles begin. May, the product of an evil experiment, has special powers that her creators will go to unthinkable extents to regain. The U.S. release date was April 11, 2000. The English dubbed version sells for US$19.98 and the Japanese with English subtitled version for $29.95. . . .
Spell Wars: Sorcerer Hunters' Revenge 2 cast its spot in stores in April. The evil Zaha is growing in strength and plans to exploit the Hunters’ secret power. However, before they can challenge the villain they must save a small village from the deadly gymbots. Sorcerer Hunters' Revenge 2 hit stores April 11, 2000. The English dubbed version sells for US$19.98 and the Japanese with English subtitled version for $29.95. . . .Dragon Half follows the crazy life of Mink, whose father is a knight and mother a dragon. Besides her odd couple parents, Mink has fallen in love with a handsome singer, who also happens to be a dragonslayer. What does a half-breed do when she wants to see her love in concert? Watch and find out. The all-new English dubbed version flew into stores April 25, 2000, priced at US$19.98. . . .Martian Successor Nadesico Volume 3 beamed onto video. Devastated by a Jovian ambush, the Nadesico flee across the dead surface of Mars. Now the crew's only hope may be a dangerous plan to use the enemy's own technology to transport the Nadesico back to Earth! The mission blasted off on April 25, 2000. The English dubbed version sells for US$19.98 and the Japanese with English subtitled version for $29.95. . . .GLO*RI*A 2 boarded store shelves in April. The wealthy Gloria family has hired new handsome tutors for their young girls. Lessons that aren’t taught in normal schools happen when a field trip ends in a fight for survival. The steamy story hit stores on April 11, 2000. The English dubbed version sells for US$19.98 and the Japanese with English subtitled version for $29.95. . . .Manga Entertainment to release Satoshi Kon's animated psychological thriller Perfect Blue on DVD. In the film, pop singer Mima Kirigoe looks forward to a bright new career when she quits her chart-topping trio to become an actress. However, a mysterious stalker, who knows all her personal secrets, accompanies her journey to fame. The film was nominated by The Motion Picture Sound Editors for a Golden Reel Award along with six other 1999 animated feature films including Tarzan, Toy Story Ii, Pokémon and Princess Mononoke. The DVD features interviews with the director and key English and Japanese voice actors. Additional features include a musical photo gallery, special behind the scene performances, hidden songs, theatrical trailer, previews, fan club info, DVD catalog, CD-ROM content and Web links. The thrill ride began on April 25, 2000 for US$29.95. . . .Devilman compilation has come to DVD. Manga Entertainment presents two animated volumes on one DVD featuring: a full screen version digitally re-mastered with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, a scene index, Go Nagai biography and filmography, photo gallery, original trailer, Manga video previews and Manga video Web link. Based on Go Nagai's best-selling manga comic book, Devilman, Episode 1: The Birth introduces a young high school kid named Akira, whose parents have mysteriously disappeared. The boy soon learns that his father has left him a legacy of fighting demons, yet whoever kills a demon must become a demon -- and only one who is pure of heart can possess the body of a demon. Is Akira that person? Continuing the adventure in Episode 2: Demon Bird: Demons, once trapped in the glacial ice of the Earth, have been unleashed on mankind after centuries of inactivity. Only two men have the ability to stop them, the cool-headed Ryo and the fearless Akira who, as Devilman, possesses the body and strength of a demon but the heart and soul of a human. The first two volumes hit stores April 25, 2000 for a suggested retail price of US$29.95. |
Note: Readers may contact any Animation World Magazine contributor by sending an e-mail to editor@awn.com.
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