tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140274831327545712024-03-18T21:24:09.951-07:00The Fantasy of Science FictionAll about the power of our fantasy.Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01924263999017748089noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914027483132754571.post-53786470341906006432008-11-10T07:53:00.000-08:002008-11-10T08:10:43.835-08:00Recommended Japanese Anime TV SeriesRecommended Japanese Anime TV Series<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Tetsujin28/Gigantor'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpen28();">Tetsujin 28(Gigantor)</a><br />1963-65<br /><a name="Tetsujin28"></a>An origin of 'Giant Robot' anime genre. Based on Mitsuteru Yokoyama's manga (graphic novel). The story of a boy detective named Shotaro Kaneda, who operates a giant robot called 'Tetsujin 28' ('Iron Man No. 28') by remote control and fights injustice. 'Tetsujin' was originally a classified weapon that had been developed by the Japanese forces during the World War II. One of the early masterpieces of Japanese TV animations. Aired on the US TV under the title of 'Gigantor' in 1966. A monochrome film. The 1st part consists of 83 episodes. The 2nd part consists of 13 episodes. Produced by TCJ.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='8th Man'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenEighth();">8-Man(8th Man)</a><br />1963-64<br /><a name="8-Man"></a>A Sci-Fi action anime based on the manga (graphic novel) by Sci-Fi novelist Kazumasa Hirai and manga artist Jiro Kuwata. The story of a robotic detective called Eighth Man (who is an ex-detective of Tokyo police, and his real name is Hachiro Azuma). One of the early masterpieces of Japanese TV animations. Aired on the US TV under the title of '8th Man' in 1965. A monochrome film. 56 episodes. Produced by TCJ.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Mach Go Go Go/Speed Racer'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenMach();">Mach Go Go Go(Speed Racer)(1st series)</a><br />1967-68<br /><a name="MachGoGoGo"></a>A car action anime. The hero, Go Mifune is a teenage boy and car racer who drives a special sports car and enters races all over the world. Aired on the US TV under the title of 'Speed Racer' in 1967. The supervising director is Hiroshi Sasagawa. 52 episodes. Produced by Tatsunoko Production.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='BEM/Bug-Eyed Monster'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenBem();">BEM(Youkai Ningen Bemu/Bug-Eyed Monster)</a><br />1968-69<br /><a name="BEM"></a>An exotic gothic horror anime. The story of 3 humanoid monsters, Bem, Bela and Belo, who want to be human beings and fight against evil for human being. The music is jazzy. 26 episodes. Produced by Daiichi Doga. There are also the 2 pilot films of Bem Part Two (1982) that was not aired on TV.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Sasuke'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenSasuke();">Sasuke</a><br />1968-69<br /><a name="Sasuke"></a>A ninja action story/historical drama set in medieval Japan in the 17th Century ('Ninja' is the intelligence agents or samurai warriors engaged in espionage activities in medieval Japan.) Based on the graphic novel by Sanpei Shirato. In the period of the Tokugawa Shogunate (Japan's feudal government), a boy ninja named Sasuke and his father Daisuke Ozaru, who were anti-Tokugawan ninjas, make a long journey fighting against the pursuers of Tokugawan ninjas. 29 episodes. Produced by TCJ.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='GeGeGe no Kitaro (The First TV series)'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenKitaroTV1();">GeGeGe no Kitaro (The First TV series)</a><br />1968-69<br /><a name="KitaroTV1"></a>The first TV anime series based on the manga 'GeGeGe no Kitaro' (serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine in 1967-1969) by Shigeru Mizuki. The original manga is a popular Yokai (creatures or monsters appeared in Japanese folklore) manga featuring a boy named Kitaro, who is the last descendant of the Ghost Tribe. Kitaro fights against evil Yokai monsters harmful for humans. In the first TV series, the original manga's episodes were made into anime faithfully. The regular characters are Kitao, Kitaro's father Medama Oyaji (Eyeball Father) and a yokai-human halfbreed Nezumi Otoko (Rat Man). The semi-regular characters are Sunakake Babaa (Sand-throwing Hag), Konaki Jijii (Child-crying Old Man), Ittan Momen (Roll of Cotton), and Nurikabe (Plastered Wall). Neko Musume (Cat Girl) appeared only once in the 20th episode. Only the first series was created as a black-and-white anime. 65 episodes. The animation production by Toei Animation. The music by Taku Izumi. The sequels/remakes have been produced many times. There are the second TV series (1971-1972, 45 episodes), the third TV series (1985-1988, 115 episodes), the fourth TV series (1996-1998, 114 episodes), and the fifth TV series (2007-). There are also seven original movie versions (released in the 1980s and 1990s).<br /><br />Kyojin no Hoshi/Star of the Giants<br />1968-71<br /><a name="KyojinnoHoshi"></a>An emotional, feature-length drama depicting a father and son who had devoted their lives to Japanese professional baseball. Based on the manga (graphic novel) by Ikki Kajiwara (story) and Noboru Kawasaki (drawing). A classic masterpiece of so-called 'Sports Konjou' genre ('konjou' means something like guts or spirit) and one of the nationally-popular manga/anime works. The story of a boy named Hyuma Hoshi, who became a powerful baseball pitcher with precision control and blazing fastball, through his hard practice and special training under his father Ittetsu Hoshi, who was once a third baseman of the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants, a leading team in Japanese pro baseball league, but he injured his shoulder by the World War Two and retired. Hyuma joined the Giants and fights fiercely against his lifetime rival Mitsuru Hanagata, the batting genius of the Hanshin Tigers, developing his 'pitching magics'. Directed by Tadao Nagahama. Produced by Tokyo Movie. 182 episodes. There are also the sequel TV series, 'Shin Kyojin no Hoshi' (52 episodes, aired in 1977-78) and 'Shin Kyojin no Hoshi II' (23 episodes, aired in 1979). 'Kyojin no Hoshi Special Edition: Fierce Tiger Mitsuru Hanagata' (13 episodes, aired in 2002) is the re-edited version of the first TV series (with some new shots added), featuring Mitsuru Hanagata as the leading character.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Attack No.1'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenAttackNo1();">Attack No.1</a><br />1969-71<br /><a name="AttackNo1"></a>A classic masterpiece of so-called 'Sports Konjou' ('konjou' means something like guts or spirit) anime for girls. Based on the manga (graphic novel) by Chikako Urano (serialized in the magazine Weekly 'Margaret' in 1968-1970). The story of a girl named Kozue Ayuhara, who transferred from Tokyo to the junior high school of the Fujimi Academy in Shizuoka Pref, and joined the volleyball club. She became the captain of the team. Training hard with the coach and her teammates, she fights against other powerful teams in junior and senior high interscholastic tournaments, aiming for the No.1 team in volleyball. This series became a big hit with the popularity of volleyball in Japan in the 1960s, and aired in European countries too. There were some professional volleyball players (Italian Francesca Piccinini and others) who started playing volleyball under the influence of this anime. 104 episodes. Directed by Fumio Kurokawa, Eiji Okabe and others. The animation produced by Tokyo Movie. The Italian title: "Quella magnifica dozzina" (the 1st edition in 1981) and "Mimì e la nazionale di pallavolo" (the 2nd edition in 1983), the French title: "Les attaquantes", the German title: "Mila Superstar".<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Ninpuu Kamui Gaiden'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenKamui();">Ninja Kamui(Ninpuu Kamui Gaiden)</a><br />1969<br /><a name="KamuiGaiden"></a>Another masterpiece of ninja action story/historical drama based on Sanpei Shirato's graphic novel, following 'Sasuke'. Ths story of a runaway ninja named Kamui, who left ninja organization and fought against the pursuers. 26 episodes. Produced by TCJ.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Dororo'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenDororo();">Dororo</a><br />1969<br /><a name="Dororo"></a>An unique historical drama based on the manga 'Dororo' by Osamu Tezuka (serialized in 1967-69), which was influenced by Sanpei Shirato's dramatic manga and Shigeru Mizuki's 'Yokai' (Japanese traditional monsters/specters) manga. Set in the Warring States Period of feudal Japan (late 15th century). The leading characters are a boy named Hyakkimaru, who has been deprived of the 48 parts of his body by demons when he was born, and Dororo, an orphan boy (girl in reality) and thief. Wandering about with Dororo, Hyakkimaru gets rid of specters and gets back the lost parts of his body one by one. A monochrome film with massive images. 26 episodes. The first half (episode 1-13) is serious and faithful to the original manga. The latter one (episode 14-26) is more child-oriented and has many original episodes for anime version only. The title has been changed to 'Dororo and Hyakkimaru' since the 14th episode. The supervising director is Gisaburo Sugii. Produced by Mushi Production. There is also the pilot film (in color) produced before the TV series.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Tiger Mask'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenTigerMask();">Tiger Mask</a><br />1969-71<br /><a name="TigerMask"></a>One of the masterworks in the sports anime genre, ranking with "Kyojin no Hoshi/Star of the Giants" (baseball anime, 1968-71) and "Ashita no Joe/Tomorrow's Joe" (boxing anime, 1970-71). The story of a young man raised in an orphanage, named Naoto Date, who became 'Tiger Mask', a tiger-masked, villainous wrestler because of his training in "Tiger's Hole", an organization for training villainous wrestlers. But he decided to fight for disadvantaged children and broke off with "Tiger's Hole". After that he plays life-or-death battles against villainous wrestlers from "Tiger's Hole" on the ring. Based on the pro wrestling manga (graphic novel) by Ikki Kajiwara (story) and Naoki Tsuji (drawing). 105 episodes. The animation production by Toei Animation. There is the sequel TV series 'Tiger Mask II' (1981-82, 33 episodes) too.<br />Lupin III(1st series)<br />1971-72<br /><a name="LupinTV1"></a>A young-oriented action anime featuring Lupin III (a grandson of Arsène Lupin and elusive master thief) and his gang: Daisuke Jigen (a gunman), Goemon Ishikawa (a swordman) and Fujiko Mine (a mystery woman). Based on <a href="http://www.monkeypunch.com/" target="_top">Monkey Punch</a>'s manga (graphic novel). The first TV series. 23 episodes. The first 6 episodes directed by Masaaki Oosumi were in hard boiled style. The latter half directed by Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki was more comedy-oriented. Produced by Tokyo Movie. In Japan, this first series got popularity on the rerun, and after that the 2 sequel TV series and lots of the movie versions and TV specials were produced, and Lupin III became a nationally-popular anime.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Apache Baseball Team'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenApache();">Apache Baseball Team</a><br />1971-72<br /><a name="Apache"></a>A daring and unorthodox baseball anime based on the manga (graphic novel) by Kobako Hanato (story) and Sachio Umemoto (drawing). A young man named Takeshi Dojima, who had once led Asahi to the high school baseball championship as a left-handed pitcher, went down to the Inosaru Village deep in the mountains in Matsuyama, Shikoku Island of southwestern Japan, and became a baseball coach at the private school. He teaches baseball to poor and rude students, and they try to enter the high school baseball tournament. 26 episodes. Directed by Kazuya Miyazaki and others. Produced by Toei Animation.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Triton of the Sea'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenTriton();">Triton of the Sea</a><br />1972<br /><a name="Triton"></a>An ocean adventure story set in the seas of the world. Based on the manga (graphic novel) by Osamu Tezuka. The leading character, Triton is a boy and descendant of the Triton race who had lived in the Atlantis. He fights against the Poseidon race, the rulers of the seas, together with his fellows (dolphins and a girl mermaid named Pipi). Directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino. The animation production by Animation Staff Room. 27 episodes.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Devilman'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenDeviltv();">Devilman</a><br />1972-73<br /><a name="DevilmanTV"></a>An unorthodox hero action/horror anime based on the manga (graphic novel) by <a href="http://www.sfwj.or.jp/member/NAGAI-GO.e.html" target="_top">Go Nagai</a>. The story of a high school boy named Akira Fudo, who was united with a Demon and became a Devilman, but decided to fight against the Demons to defend his beloved girl, Miki Makimura. 39 episodes. Produced by Toei Animation. There are the OAV series too. The manga version is one of the greatest works of Japanese manga.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Mazinger Z/Tranzor Z'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenZ();">Mazinger Z(Tranzor Z)</a><br />1972-74<br /><a name="MazingerZ"></a>The first big hit in 'Giant Robot' anime genre. Mazinger Z is a giant robot operated by the pilot. The story of a boy named Koji Kabuto, who operates Mazinger Z and fights against Dr. Hell, a scientist plotting the world domination, and his 'Machine Beasts' corps. Based on <a href="http://www.sfwj.or.jp/member/NAGAI-GO.e.html" target="_top">Go Nagai</a>'s manga (graphic novel). 92 episodes. Produced by Toei Animation. Aired in some European countries in the 1970s. Aired on the US TV under the title of 'Tranzor Z'.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Gatchaman/Battle of the Planets'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenGatcha();">Gatchaman(Battle of the Planets/G-Force)</a><br />1972-74<br /><a name="Gatchaman"></a>A masterpiece of Sci-Fi action anime. The original Japanese title is 'Science Ninja Team Gatchaman'. A group of five young men (Ken the Eagle/Gatchaman, Joe the Condor, Jun the Swan, Jinpei the Swallow, Ryu the Horned Owl) called 'Science Ninja Team' fights against an evil secret society 'Gallactor' who plots to conquer the Earth. Aired on the US TV under the title of 'Battle of the Planets' in 1978 and made a hit (though almost all the action scenes were cut). There is another English-dubbed version 'G-Force: Guardians of Space' (1986) too. 105 episodes. Produced by Tatsunoko Production.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Casshern'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenCasshern();">Casshern</a><br />1973-74<br /><a name="Casshern"></a>A Sci-Fi action anime featuring an android hero. A robotics researcher, Dr. Kotaro Azuma designed an andorid BK-1 as a robot for pollution processing, but BK-1 set up the robot army called 'Andro Army' and launched a war against humans, calling himself 'Braiking Boss'. To counter the rebellion of the robots, Dr. Azuma's son, Tetsuya changed into an android 'Casshern', and fights against the Andro Army, with the help of his childhood girlfriend Luna Kozuki and a robotic dog Flender. A tragic drama depicting the lonely battle of an android hero. 35 episodes. The general director is Hiroshi Sasagawa. Produced by Tatsuo Yoshida and Tatsunoko Production.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Babil II/Babel II'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenBabil();">Babil II(Babel II)</a><br />1973<br /><a name="Babil2"></a>A supernatural Sci-Fi anime based on Mitsuteru Yokoyama's manga (graphic novel). The leading character is a boy named Koichi, who was a distant descendant of a space alien Babil. He inherits supernatural power and super science from Babil and fights with his 3 servants (an amorphous creature Rodem, a monstrous bird Ropros and a giant robot Poseidon) against Yomi, an evil psychic who plots the world domination. 39 episodes. Produced by Toei Animation. There is the OAV version too.<br /><br />Ace wo Nerae!/Aim for the Ace!(1st series)<br />1973-74<br /><a name="AceTV1"></a>A sports/youth drama set in the high-school tennis world. Based on the girls' manga (graphic novel) by Sumika Yamamoto. The story of Hiromi Oka, a girl student in Nishi Prefectural High School, a prestigious high school in the tennis world, who had joined the tennis club because of just adoring the ace player Reika Ryuuzaki (nicknamed 'Ocho-Fujin/Madame Butterfly'), but she got intensive training by the male coach Jin Munakata, and became an able player little by little. The 1st TV series. Directed by Osamu Dezaki. Produced by Tokyo Movie. 26 episodes. There are the 2nd TV series, movie version and OAV series too.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Cutey Honey'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenHoney();">Cutey Honey</a><br />1973-74<br /><a name="CuteyHoney"></a>A heroine action anime with light sexual attraction. Based on <a href="http://www.sfwj.or.jp/member/NAGAI-GO.e.html" target="_top">Go Nagai</a>'s manga (graphic novel). The leading character, Honey Kisaragi is a high school girl at the St. Chapel Academy, and an android created by her father Dr. Kisaragi, an authority on robotics. She fights against the crime syndicate called 'Panther Claw'. 25 episodes. Produced by Toei Animation. There is the OAV version too. The TV series 'Cutey Honey F (Flash)' (1997-98) is a remake of this series in a girls' manga (graphic novel) style.<br /><br />Samurai Giants<br />1973-74<br /><a name="BambaBan"></a>A daring and amusing baseball anime by the creators of the blockbuster <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeTe.html#KyojinnoHoshi">'Star of the Giants'</a>: Ikki Kajiwara (original writer) and Tadao Nagahama (director). Based on the manga (graphic novel) by Ikki Kajiwara (story) and Koo Inoue (drawing). The leading character is an insolent wild boy named Ban Bamba, who was raised on the rough sea in Tosa, southern Japan. He was a baseball pitcher noted for the blazing fastball and the worst control, but he joined the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants in Japanese pro baseball league, and fights hard battles against his rival batters (Hikaru Mayuzuki of the Yakult Atoms, and Mansaku Taiho of the Chunichi Dragons), developing his incredible pitching magics such as 'high-jump pitching'. Directed by Tadao Nagahama. The drawing director is Yasuo Otsuka. 46 episodes. Produced by Tokyo Movie.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Heidi'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenHeidi();">Heidi(Heidi, Girl of the Alps)</a><br />1974<br /><a name="Heidi"></a>Well-known in Europe. The story of Heidi, a little girl living at a cabin in the foot of the Alps in Switzerland. Based on the novel by Johanna Spyri, the female novelist from Switzerland. Directed by Isao Takahata. Hayao Miyazaki joined this work as a scene designer and scene organizer. 52 episodes. Produced by Zuiyo Pictures.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Hurricane Polimar'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenPolimar();">Hurricane Polimar(Hurricane Polymar)</a><br />1974-75<br /><a name="Polimar"></a>A Sci-Fi martial-arts action anime. The story of Takeshi Yoroi, a 16-year-old boy and private detective's assistant, who transforms himself into an invincible hero called Hurricane Polimar and fights against crime syndicates. 26 episodes. The supervising director is Hisayuki Toriumi. Produced by Tatsunoko Production. There is the OAV version too.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Getter Robo'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenGetter();">Getter Robo</a><br />1974-75<br /><a name="GetterRobo"></a>The story of a team of 3 boys who operate a giant robot called Getter Robo, formed by transformation and combination of 3 machines in 3 patterns. The original works by <a href="http://www.sfwj.or.jp/member/NAGAI-GO.e.html" target="_top">Go Nagai</a>, Ken Ishikawa and Dynamic Productions. One of the classics of robot animes. Very influential in the later robot animes. 51 episodes. Produced by Toei Animation.<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Great Mazinger'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenGreat();">Great Mazinger</a><br />1974-75<br /><a name="GreatMazinger"></a>The sequel to Mazinger Z. The story of a young man named Tetsuya Tsurugi, who operates Great Mazinger (a giant robot built by Dr. Kenzo Kabuto, father of Koji Kabuto) and fights against the aggression by the Mycenae Empire. Much better in visual quality than Mazinger Z. 56 episodes. Produced by Toei Animation.<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Space Battleship Yamato/Star Blazers'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenYamato();">Space Battleship Yamato(Star Blazers)</a><br />1974-75<br /><a name="YamatoTV"></a>A pioneering work of full-scale Sci-Fi anime. In the 2199, the Earth had been bombed by the planet Gamilus and contaminated by radioactivity. The human race was in danger of extinction. The space battleship Yamato and the crew aim for the planet Iskandall, to get the radioactivity removal equipment 'Cosmo Cleaner' there, fighting against the Gamilus. The original works and direction by Leiji Matsumoto, a manga artist. 26 episodes. Produced by Office Academy. 'Star Blazers', aired on the US TV in 1979, was an English dubbed version (a digest) edited from this TV series.<br />The Adventures of Gamba<br />1975<br /><a name="Gamba"></a>An impressive adventure story with anthropomorphized animals as characters. The story of a city mouse named Gamba and his fellow mice, who embark on an adventurous journey over sea in order to save island mice from slaughter by a group of weasels led by a white weasel named Noroi. Based on the juvenile by Atsuo Saito. 26 episodes. The chief director was Osamu Dezaki. Produced by Tokyo Movie.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='UFO Robo Grendizer'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenGrendizer();">UFO Robo Grendizer(Goldorak/Goldrake)</a><br />1975-77<br /><a name="Grendizer"></a>The 3rd of the 'Mazinger' series. The story about Duke Fleed, the prince of the planet Fleed, who operates a giant robot called Grendizer and fights to save the earth. The original works by <a href="http://www.sfwj.or.jp/member/NAGAI-GO.e.html" target="_top">Go Nagai</a> and Dynamic Planning. 74 episodes. Produced by Toei Animation. Aired on TV in Europe in the late 1970s and made a big hit. The French title was 'Goldorak'. The Italian title was 'Goldrake'.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Reideen The Brave'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenReideen();">Reideen(Reideen The Brave)</a><br />1975-76<br /><a name="Reideen"></a>One of the classics of robot animes. The leading character Akira Hibiki is a junior high school boy and the captain of the soccer club, who operates a giant robot called Reideen and fights against The Devil Empire. The flowing style of character designs and drawings by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko. Directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino and Tadao Nagahama. 50 episodes. Produced by NET and Tohoku Shinsha. The latter half directed by Nagahama was the run-up to his later 'romantic robot anime trilogy' (Combattler V, Voltes V and Daimos).<br /><br />Marco/From the Apennines to the Andes/Haha o Tazunete Sanzenri<br />1976<br /><a name="Marco"></a>One of the masterpieces of 'World Masterpieces Theater' (children's anime based on literary works) series produced by Nippon Animation. Directed by Isao Takahata. Based on the short story 'From the Apennines to the Andes', which is an episode from 'Cuore' (1886), the masterpiece of Italian juvenile literature written by Edmondo De Amicis. The original Japanese title 'Haha o Tazunete Sanzenri' means '3,000 Leagues in Search of Mother'. The story of Marco, a boy from Genova, Italy, who makes a long journey from Genova to Argentina in search of his mother. 52 episodes.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Combattler V'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenV();">Combattler V</a><br />1976-77<br /><a name="CombattlerV"></a>The story of a team of 5 teenagers who operate a giant robot called Combattler V, formed by transformation and combination of 5 machines, and fight against the invasion by aliens. The supervising director is Tadao Nagahama. 54 episodes. Produced by Toei.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Daiku Maryu Gaiking'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenGaiking();">Gaiking(Daiku Maryu Gaiking)</a><br />1976-77<br /><a name="Gaiking"></a>The original robot anime by Toei Animation. The story of an ex-baseball player Sanshiro Tsuwabuki, who became one of the crew of the dinosaur-type space fortress called Daiku Maryu, and started to fight against the Black Horror Corps, invaders from outer space, as the pilot of the giant robot called Gaiking. 44 episodes.<br />Zambot 3<br />1977-78<br /><a name="Zambot3"></a>Directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, director of the Gundam series. His early work. The character designs are cartoonish, but the story is too serious. The starting point of realistic robot animes. 23 episodes. Produced by Sunrise.<br />Future Boy Conan<br />1978<br /><a name="FutureBoyConan"></a>A Sci-Fi adventure story set in the future world after the final war. A wild boy, Conan goes on an adventurous journey to help a girl named Lana (granddaughter of Dr. Briac Lao, the developer of the solar energy), who was abducted by an autocratic scientific city called Industria. An adaptation from Alexander Key's novel, 'The Incredible Tide'. 26 episodes. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The greatest work of Miyazaki anime. Produced by Nippon Animation.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Space Pirate Captain Herlock'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenHerlock();">Space Pirate Captain Herlock</a><br />1978-79<br /><a name="Herlock"></a>A heroic Sci-Fi drama based on Leiji Matsumoto's manga (serialized in the magazine Weekly 'Play Comic' in 1977-1979). The story of a space pirate Captain Herlock, who takes a space battleship 'Arcadia' (constructed by his best friend Tochiro Oyama) and fights against the invaders from space, called 'Mazone' (a female-type alien race evolved from plants). The storyline is basically based on the original manga version, but it has also original episodes and characters not in the original, such as Mayu Oyama (Tochiro's daughter) and Kiruda (the chief of the Earth Federation Guard). The character designs by Kazuo Komatsubara are very faithful to the original manga version. The chief director is Taro Rin. Produced by Toei Animation. 42 episodes. There are also another films featuring Captain Herlock: <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeMe.html#Arcadia">the movie 'Arcadia of My Youth'</a> (1982), the TV series 'Arcadia of My Youth: Endless Orbit SSX' (1982-83), the OAV 'Harlock Saga: Der Ring Des Nibelungen -Das Rhein Gold-' (1999), the TV series 'Cosmo Warrior Zero' (2001), the TV series 'Gun Frontier' (2002), and the OAV 'Space Pirate Captain Herlock: Outside Legend -The Endless Odyssey-' (2002-2003).<br /><br />Shin Ace wo Nerae!/Aim for the Ace!(2nd series)<br />1978-79<br /><a name="AceTV2"></a>See the paragraph about the Aim for the Ace! first TV seires. The second TV series produced because the first series got popularity on the rerun. Not the sequel, but a remake. More faithful to the original manga (graphic novel) by Sumika Yamamoto than the first series, and more youth/school drama oriented than the first series that was a variant of the 'sports-spirit' genre. The chief director is Minoru Okazaki. Produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha. 25 episodes.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Galaxy Express 999'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpen999();">Galaxy Express 999</a><br />1978-81<br /><a name="999TV"></a>A fantastic Sci-Fi anime based on Leiji Matsumoto's manga (graphic novel). The story about space travel in the future world. The hero Tetsuro Hoshino is a boy who travels with a mysterious woman named Maetel to get a mechanical body (eternal life) by 999, a spaceship which looks like a steam locomotive. The chief director is Nobutaka Nishizawa. 113 episodes. Produced by Toei Animation. There are the movie versions too.<br /><br />Anne of Green Gables<br />1979<br /><a name="Anne"></a>One of the masterpieces of 'World Masterpieces Theater' (children's anime based on literary works) series produced by Nippon Animation. Directed by Isao Takahata. Based on the novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the female novelist from Canada. The story of Anne Shirley, a girl living in the Prince Edward Island of the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada. 50 episodes.<br />Mobile Suit Gundam<br />1979-80<br /><a name="GundamTV"></a>The highest peak of robot animes. A watershed between the 1970s heroic 'Super Robot' anime and 'Real Robot' anime since the 1980s. The story of a civil war in the future space-colonization age ('the One Year War' between the Earth Federation and Duchy of Zeon in 0079-80 Universal Century). Gundam is one of the giant humanoid fighting vehicles called 'mobile suits', and the pilot is a 16-year-old boy named Amuro Ray. The 1st TV series directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino. 43 episodes. Produced by Sunrise. There is also the movie version trilogy edited from this TV series. In conjunction with the popularity of the plastic models of mobile suits, many other 'Gundam' series have been produced as TV series, movies and OAVs.<br />Lady Oscar/The Rose of Versailles<br />1979-80<br /><a name="BeruBara"></a>Based on the girls' manga (graphic novel) by Riyoko Ikeda. Historical drama/romance set in France on the Eve of the French Revolution. The story of Oscar Francoise de Jarjayes, a military woman, who had worked as the head of the palace guard for the Queen Marie Antoinette, and afterward went over to revolutionaries. Directed by Tadao Nagahama and Osamu Dezaki. 40 episodes. Produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Marine Express'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenMarineExpress();">Marine Express</a><br />1979<br /><a name="MarineExpress"></a>The second of the one-shot TV animations produced by Tezuka Production and aired in NTV's special special program "24 Hour Television" (91 minute). A sea-adventure/Sci-Fi/mystery set in an undersea express train and the super ancient Mu Empire. A Japanese private detective Shunsaku Ban took a Trans-Pacific undersea railroad "Marine Express" and investigated a murder case, but the train suddenly went beyond time and space and jumped to the Mu Empire 10,000 years ago. An all-star film featuring Tezuka's characters such as Rock Home, Shunsaku Ban (Higeoyaji), Black Jack, Atom from "Tetsuwan Atom/Astro Boy", Sapphire from "Ribbon no Kishi/Princess Knight", Leo/Kimba from "Jungle Taitei/Kimba the White Lion", Hosuke Sharaku from "Mitsume ga Tooru/The Three-Eyed One", Don Dracula, Dr. Ochanomizu, Duke Red, Acetylene Lamp, Skunk Kusai, Ham Egg, Marukubi Boon, and Kojiro Sasaki. The original story and organization by Osamu Tezuka. The chief director is Tetsu Dezaki.<br /><br />Ashita no Joe 2(Tomorrow's Joe 2)<br />1980-81<br /><a name="JoeTV2"></a>See the paragraph about the movie Ashita no Joe. The 2nd TV series based on the latter part of the story of the original manga version. After the death of rival Toru Rikiishi, Joe Yabuki came back as a boxer, won the Orient-Pacific bantamweight championship, and challenged Jose Mendoza, the world's bantamweight champion from Mexico. Directed by Osamu Dezaki. 47 episodes. Produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha.<br />Ideon(Legendary Giant God Ideon)<br />1980-81<br /><a name="IdeonTV"></a>A full-scale Sci-Fi drama dealing with the metaphysical theme about mankind's egoism and 'transmigration'. The story of the space war between Earthians and aliens over a legendary unlimited energy called 'Ide'. In the 2300s, the people who had emigrated to the planet Solo from the Earth went into combat with the aliens called 'Baff Clan', and run away into space with the spaceship 'Solo Ship' and a giant robot called 'Ideon', which were the ruins of vanished aliens on the planet Solo. The director of the Gundam series, Yoshiyuki Tomino's another masterpiece. 39 episodes. Produced by Sunrise. There is the movie version (last program) too.<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Urusei Yatsura'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenUrusei();">Urusei Yatsura(Those Obnoxious Aliens)</a><br />1981-86<br /><a name="UruseiTV"></a>Sci-Fi slapstick and romantic comedy based on Rumiko Takahashi's manga (graphic novel). 'Urusei Yatsura' means something like 'Those Troublesome Aliens'. The leading characters are Ataru Moroboshi (a high-school boy and woman chaser) and Lum (an alien girl like 'Oni', the Japanese demon). 218 episodes. The chief directors were Mamoru Oshii (episodes 1-129) and Kazuo Yamazaki (episodes 130-218). The animation production by Studio Pierrot.<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Macross'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenMacross();">Macross(Super Dimensional Fortress Macross)</a><br />1982-83<br /><a name="MacrossTV"></a>A Sci-Fi/love story featuring mecha-action and pretty girl characters. The story of Macross, the supergiant space battleship fighting against alien invaders. The starting point of 'Otaku-ish' anime since the 1980s (anime of the anime fans, by the anime fans, for the anime fans). The chief director is Noboru Ishiguro. 36 episodes. See <a href="http://www.macross.co.jp/" target="_top">Macross Official Homepage</a>. The design of 'VF-1 Valkyrie' (the Variable Fighter that transforms into a robot) is modeled after the US Navy's F-14 Tomcat. 'Robotech', which was aired on the US TV in 1985, was a composition of Macross and other two robot animes (Mospeada and Southern Cross).<br /><br />Xabungle<br />1982-83<br /><a name="Xabungle"></a>A humorous and extremely delightful robot anime. The story about a revolutionary war against the governing classes in the future world. The characters are so vivid, and the mechanical designs which look like jeeps or machine tools are unique. Directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino. 50 episodes. Produced by Sunrise.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Minky Momo (1st TV series)'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenMomo1();">Minky Momo(1st series)</a><br />1982-83<br /><a name="MinkyMomo1"></a>One of the masterpieces of 'Magical Girl' anime genre. The heroine Momo is a girl who can change into various able women. A fairy-tale slapstick comedy. The theme is "dreaming". The first TV series. The original works by Takeshi Syudo. Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama. 63 episodes. Produced by Ashi Production.<br /><br />Space Adventure Cobra<br />1982-83<br /><a name="Cobra"></a>A Sci-Fi action anime in the American-comic/space opera style. Based on <a href="http://www.buichi.com/" target="_top">Buichi Terasawa</a>'s manga (graphic novel). The leading character Cobra is a one-man space pirate who resists Space Mafia Guild. Directed by Osamu Dezaki and Yoshio Takeuchi. 31 episodes. Produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha. There is the movie version too.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Patalliro!'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenPatalliro();">Patalliro!</a><br />1982-83<br /><a name="Patalliro"></a>A comedy/gag anime on spy/cloak-and-dagger action and Shounen-ai/boylove (aesthetic homosexuality between males, especially for beautiful boys), which is a popular theme of Japanese girls' manga (graphic novel) since the 1970s. Based on Mineo Maya's popular manga of the same title, which is serialized in the girls' manga magazine 'Hana to Yume' since 1979 for long periods. The leading characters are Patalliro du Marinel VIII (a ten-year-old boy. The king of Marinera, the land of perpetual spring), Major Jack Bancolin (an intelligence officer of MI6, Britain's military intelligence division), Maraich (an assassin-turned boy and Bancolin's lover) and others. 49 episodes. The title is changed to 'Boku Patalliro! (I'm Patalliro!)' after the 21st episode. The chief director is Nobutaka Nishizawa. The animation produced by Toei Animation. There is also the movie version <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeMe.html#Patalliromovie">'Patalliro! Stardust Program'</a> (1983). The TV series 'Patalliro Saiyuki!' (aired in 2005, 26 episodes) is the anime version of the original side story. Patalliro's 'Cock Robin Ondo' (Cock Robin Dance Song), known for its phrase "Who Killed Cock Robin?", is originally a quotation from 'Kotori no Su (Little Bird's Nest)', one of the episodes of Moto Hagio's 'Poe no Ichizoku (The Poe Clan)', which is based on Mother Goose rhymes (English traditional nursery rhymes).<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Stop! Hibari-kun'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenHibari();">Stop! Hibari-kun</a><br />1983-84<br /><a name="Hibari"></a>A unique situation comedy/gag anime featuring a boy who looks just like a beautiful girl. Based on the manga by Hisashi Eguchi (serialized in the magazine Weekly Shonen Jump in 1981-1983). A high school boy Kousaku Sakamoto came to live with Ibari Oozora, who was an ex-boyfriend of Kousaku's dead mother, but Ibari Oozora is a yakuza (Japanese mafia) boss, and his son Hibari Oozora is a shemale. Kousaku goes to the same school as Hibari, and he found Hibari acts as a girl in school and everybody except the Oozora family don't know Hibari is a boy. A novel work produced as a kind of anti-romantic comedy, which was against the romantic comedy genre blooming in those days. 35 episodes. The original manga was stopped without being completed shortly after the TV broadcast started, so in the latter half, there are several original episodes (not in the manga) and diversions from the stories of other Eguchi works, such as "Susume! Pirates" and "Hinomaru Gekijo". The series director is Takashi Hisaoka. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Armored Trooper Votoms<br />1983-84<br /><a name="Votoms"></a>A realistic robot anime, like the Gundam series. Votoms are robots operated by soldiers, like tanks. It means "Vertical One-man Tank for Offense & Maneuver". Directed by Ryosuke Takahashi. 52 episodes. Produced by Sunrise.<br />Round Vernian Vifam<br />1983-84<br /><a name="Vifam"></a>A Sci-Fi adventure anime like Jules Verne's novel, 'Two Years Holiday' ('Deux Ans de Vacances'). The story of 13 children-Scott Heyward (15 years old), Clare Barbland (14), Roddy Shuffle (14), Barts Lyan (14), Maki Rowell (13), Shalon Publin (11), Fred Shuffle (10), Pench Eliza (10), Katue Pearson (age unknown), Kentz Norton (9), Jimmy Eril (7), Marlo Jr. Bonner (4) and Routinie Pressette (4)-who drift in outer space, taking the training spaceship 'Janous', and fighting against the arien Kuktonian's attack. 'Vifam' is one of the Round Vernians (humanoid mobile weapons) of the Earth Force. Directed by Takeyuki Kanda. The Characters designed by Toyoo Ashida (the character designer of 'Dr. Slump: Arare-chan' and 'Minky Momo'). 46 episodes. Produced by Sunrise. There are the OAVs (1984-85) and the new TV series 'Vifam 13' (26 episodes, 1998) too.<br /><br />Magical Angel Creamy Mami<br />1983-84<br /><a name="CreamyMami"></a>The 1st of the 'Magical Girl' series by Studio Pierrot, the production company of 'Urusei Yatsura'. The leading character Yuu Morisawa is a fifth-grade elementary school girl (10 years old) of the St. Remy Academy. She had been just a girl next door, but she transforms herself into a 17-year-old idol singer called Creamy Mami, by the power of a Magical World 'Feather Star', and participates actively in the show business. Directed by Osamu Kobayashi. 52 episodes. The are the 4 OAVs too.<br /><br />Aura Battler Dunbine<br />1983-84<br /><a name="Dunbine"></a>A fantastic robot anime. The scene is laid in another world, like fairyland. Dunbine is a biological big robot, like a bug. Directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino. 49 episodes. Produced by Sunrise.<br /><br />Cat's Eye(1st series)<br />1983-84<br /><a name="CatsEye"></a>An action anime based on the manga (graphic novel) by Tsukasa Hojo. The leading characters Rui, Hitomi and Ai Kisugi are 3 sisters and mysterious thieves wearing leotards, who steal art objects (jewels and paintings) that were once their father's collections, in order to find their missing father. The chief director was Yoshio Takeuchi. 36 episodes. Produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha. There are the sequel and live-action movie version too.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Nanako SOS'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenNanako();">Nanako SOS</a><br />1983-84<br /><a name="Nanako"></a>The anime version of the manga (serialized in 1980-85) by Hideo Azuma, who is popular with maniacs for his surreal, 'absurd' Sci-Fi/comedy and cute little girl character. The second anime series based on Hideo Azuma's manga, following the previous series 'Koro Koro Pollon' (aired in 1982-83). A nonsensical slapstick comedy featuring a timid girl named Nanako, who had lost her memory, but had got psychic powers and became a 'supergirl'. A self-proclaimed 'scientist of genius', a boy student named Yotsuya tries to use Nanako's powers to make money, administering a handyman company. 39 episodes. Directed Akira Shigino, Tetsuro Amino and others. Produecd by Kokusai Eigasha. The Italian title was 'Nanà Supergirl'. The French title was 'Supernana'.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Hokuto no Ken/Fist of the North Star'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenHokuto();">Hokuto no Ken/Fist of the North Star</a><br />1984-88<br /><a name="Hokuto"></a>The anime version of the martial-arts/violent action manga (graphic novel) by Bronson (story) and Tetsuo Hara (drawing). Set in a war-ravaged, lawless world ruled by violence after a nuclear war. The leading character is a guy named Kenshiro, who is a successor of 'Hokuto-shinken', the school of martial arts for assassination (it destroys the human body from within). 152 episodes. Directed by Toyoo Ashida. Produced by Toei. There are the anime movie version (1986) and Hollywood live-action version (1995) too.<br /><br />Heavy Metal L-Gaim<br />1984-85<br /><a name="LGaim"></a>A stylish and fashionable robot anime. The character designs and mechanical designs are refined. Directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino. 54 episodes. Produced by Sunrise.<br /><br />Panzer World Galient<br />1984-85<br /><a name="Galient"></a>A fantastic robot anime. The scene is laid in another planet, like the world of the medieval knight. Directed by Ryosuke Takahashi. 25 episodes. Produced by Sunrise.<br />Mobile Suit Z Gundam(Zeta Gundam)<br />1985-86<br /><a name="ZGundam"></a>The sequel to Mobile Suit Gundam. A complicated story about a three-cornered fight of Titans (the elite of the Earth Federal Forces), A.E.U.G. (Anti-Earth Union Group) and Axis (the remnants of Zeon) in 0087 Universal Century. A 17-year-old boy, Camille Vidan joins A.E.U.G., and as the pilot of Zeta Gundam, fights against Titans, with Quattro Bagina (Char Aznable). Directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino. 50 episodes. Produced by Sunrise.<br /><br />Dirty Pair<br />1985<br /><a name="DirtyPair"></a>A Sci-Fi action anime based on <a href="http://www.sfwj.or.jp/member/TAKACHIHO-HARUKA.e.html" target="_top">Haruka Takachiho</a>'s novel. The story of Kei and Yuri, a girl duo who work in the WWWA (Worlds Welfare Work Association) as galactic troubleshooters. 26 episodes (the 25th and 26th episodes were not aired on TV). Produced by Sunrise. There are the movie version and OAVs too.<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Dragon Ball'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenDB();">Dragon Ball</a><br />1986-89<br /><a name="DB"></a>The action adventure anime based on Akira Toriyama's popular manga (graphic novel) 'Dragon Ball', which was serialized in the magazine <a href="http://www.shonenjump.com/">Weekly Shonen Jump</a> in 1984-1995. The story of a martial artist boy Son Goku, who keeps on training himself to be the strongest martial artist, making an adventurous journey with a girl named Bulma in search of 'Dragonballs', magical spheres which can fulfill any wish if all the seven were gathered together. The storyline is basically faithful to the original manga vesion, but there are also lots of the anime original episodes not in the manga vesion. The first TV series 'Dragon Ball' describes the story until Son Goku won the 23rd World Martial-Arts Tournament, beating Piccolo (MaJunior), and got married to a girl named Chichi. 153 episodes. The series directors are Minoru Okazaki and Daisuke Nishio. Produced by Toei Animation. There are also the sequel TV series <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeTe.html#DBZ">'Dragon Ball Z'</a> (aired in 1989-96, 291 episodes) and 'Dragon Ball GT' (aired in 1996-97, 64 episodes).<br /><br />Maison Ikkoku<br />1986-88<br /><a name="MaisonIkkoku"></a>Based on Rumiko Takahashi's manga (graphic novel). The comic love story set in an apartment house named Ikkoku-kan. The leading characters are the apartment-house manager Kyoko Otonashi (a widow) and the tenant Yusaku Godai (a student). 96 episodes. Produced by Kitty Film. The animation produced by Studio DEEN. In Japan the original manga version is more famous than the anime version.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Saint Seiya'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenSeiya();">Saint Seiya (Knights of the Zodiac)</a><br />1986-89<br /><a name="Seiya"></a>The martial-arts action anime featuring five good-looking boys, Pegasus/Seiya, Dragon/Shiryu, Cygnus/Hyoga, Andromeda/Shun and Phoenix/Ikki, who are the 'Saints', the fighters in armors called 'Clothes'. Based on the manga (graphic novel) by Masami Kurumada. Gained wide popularity among female fans because of the beautiful boy characters with sex appeal. 114 episodes. The series director is Kozo Morishita. The characters designed by Shingo Araki and Michi Himeno. Produced by Toei Animation. There is the completely new OVA series 'Saint Seiya: The Hades Chapter-Sanctuary' (13 episodes, released in 2003) too.<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Dragon Ball Z'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenDBZ();">Dragon Ball Z</a><br />1989-96<br /><a name="DBZ"></a>See the paragraph about the <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeTe.html#DB">first TV series 'Dragon Ball'</a>. The martial-arts action anime series aired in 42 countries in the world. The sequel to the first TV series 'Dragon Ball' based on Akira Toriyama's manga. The leading character is Son Goku, the world's strongest guy. Five years after beating Piccolo at the 23rd World Martial-Arts Tournament, Goku had been married to Chichi, and they had their son, Son Gohan. Goku and his fellows fight overwhelming battles against new enemies, like Saiyan fighter Vegeta, evil emperor Frieza and so on. 291 episodes. The series director is Daisuke Nishio. Produced by Toei Animation. There are lots of the movie versions and the sequel TV series 'Dragon Ball GT' (aired in 1996-97, 64 episodes) too.<br /><br />Ranma 1/2<br />1989-92<br /><a name="Ranma1/2"></a>Romantic comedy/martial-arts action anime based on Rumiko Takahashi's manga (graphic novel). The story of Ranma Saotome, a 16-year-old boy and martial artist, who turns into a girl whenever he's splashed with cold water. 161 episodes. Directed by Tsutomu Shibayama and others. Produced by Kitty Film. The animation produced by DEEN.<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Patlabor (the TV series)'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenPtv();">Patlabor(Patlabor The Mobile Police)</a><br />1989-90<br /><a name="PatlaborTV"></a>See the paragraph about the Patlabor OAV version. Concerning the visual quality, this TV series is a little poorer than the OAVs and movies, but the stories are interesting. Directed by Naoyuki Yoshinaga. 47 episodes. Produced by Sunrise.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Idol Tenshi Youkoso Yoko/Idol Angel Welcome Yoko'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenYoko();">Idol Tenshi Youkoso Yoko(Idol Angel Welcome Yoko)</a><br />1990-91<br /><a name="Yoko"></a>A musical-style anime with full of the original songs. Starring Yoko Tanaka, a girl who dreams of being a singer at Shibuya in Tokyo. A series of fairy-tale and touching episodes about 'dreaming'. The original works by Takeshi Syudo. In common with his Minky Momo series, this work implies the theme of "dreaming closely related to harsh world of reality". Directed by Tetsuro Amino. 43 episodes. Produced by Big West and Ashi Production.<br />Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water<br />1990-91<br /><a name="Nadia"></a>A sea adventure/action story/steampunk Sci-Fi adapted from Jules Verne's novel, '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' ('Vingt mille lieues sous les mers'). In the Paris Expo of 1889, Jean Rocque Raltique, a French boy with a mania for inventions, meets Nadia, an African girl working as a circus acrobat, and they embark upon an adventurous journey for exploring the secret of her wearing gemstone called 'Blue Water'. Directed by Hideaki Anno. 39 episodes. The animation production by GAINAX and others.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Brother, Dear Brother...'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenBrother();">Brother, Dear Brother...</a><br />1991-92<br /><a name="Brother"></a>A serious campus-life drama set in a private girls' school. Based on the girls' manga by Riyoko Ikeda (serialized in 1974). The original title 'Oniisama E...' means 'To My Older Brother...'. Aired on the NHK (Japan's state-run station) satellite broadcasting. The story of a girl named Nanako Misonoo, who entered the senior high school of Seiran Academy. She was picked to join the 'sorority', a campus social club open only to the students selected, and then she is involved in the intricate relationship with devotion, adoration, jealousy, hidden kinships and so on. 39 episodes. The antique, elegant and aesthetic world of the original manga is finely adapted into an anime with beautiful images and lots of new episodes added. Directed by Osamu Dezaki. The character design and animation direction by Akio Sugino. The animation produced by Tezuka Production.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Minky Momo (2nd TV series)'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenMomo2();">Minky Momo(2nd series)</a><br />1991-92<br /><a name="MinkyMomo2"></a>The second TV series. The first half seemed to be a remake of the first series, but the latter half revealed it had been the sequel to the first series. The original works by Takeshi Syudo. Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama. 62 episodes. Produced by Ashi Production.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Sailor Moon (1st TV series)'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenSailor();">Sailor Moon(1st series)</a><br />1992-93<br /><a name="SailorMoon"></a>A variant of 'Magical Girl' anime genre. Well-known in the world. Based on the girls' manga (graphic novel) by Naoko Takeuchi. The story of the group of 5 junior high girls (Usagi Tsukino and her fellows) who changes themselves into sailor-suited fighters and fight against the Dark Kingdom, an evil organization plotting to conquer the Earth. The character designs are beautiful. The first of the 5 TV series. 46 episodes. Directed by Junichi Sato. Produced by Toei Animation. The sequels, Sailor Moon R and Sailor Moon S are recommended too.<br /><br />Yu Yu Hakusho (Ghost Fighter/Poltergeist Report)<br />1992-95<br /><a name="YYH"></a>A fighting action anime based on the manga (graphic novel) by Yoshihiro Togashi. The leading character is Yusuke Urameshi, a bad boy in the eighth grade, who died in a traffic accident trying to save a child, but came alive again and became a detective of the Spirit World. Yusuke and his party (Kazuma Kuwabara, Kurama and Hiei) fight fierce psychic martial-arts battles against monsters from the Demon World. Directed by Noriyuki Abe. 112 episodes. Produced by Studio Pierrot. There are the two movie versions too.<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Slam Dunk'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenSlaDun();">Slam Dunk</a><br />1993-96<br /><a name="SlaDun"></a>The anime version of the greatest basketball manga (graphic novel) 'Slam Dunk' by <a href="http://www.itplanning.co.jp/">Takehiko Inoue</a>. The original manga version (serialized in 1990-98) was a popular work that have increased drastically guys in Japan who want to join the basketball club, and the translated versions have been published in North America, Europe and Asia. The story of a red-headed tall guy Hanamichi Sakuragi, who was a freshman in the Kanagawa Prefectural Shohoku High School. He joined the basketball club on the suggestion of Haruko Akagi, the girl he fell in love with at first sight. He made rapid progress in basketball through coaching from the captain Takenori Akagi (Haruko's elder brother) and rivalry against a rookie and basketball genius, Kaede Rukawa, and he becomes a leading player of the Shohoku team that plays regional elimination matches for entering the national tournament. 101 episodes. The series director is Nobutaka Nishizawa. The animation produced by Toei Animation. There are the 4 movie versions (1994-95) too.<br />Mobile Suit V Gundam(Victory Gundam)<br />1993-94<br /><a name="VGundam"></a>One of the Gundam sagas. The story of Usso Ewing, a 13-year-old boy soldier of The League Militaire (a civilian resistance organization), who operates V Gundam and fights against the aggression by the Zanscare Empire (in 0153 Universal Century). The theme is something like "a fight against religious salvation as maternal protection/oppression". Directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino. 51 episodes. Produced by Sunrise.<br /><br />I Can Hear the Sea/Ocean Waves<br />1993<br /><a name="HearTheSea"></a>A one-shot TV special by the younger staff of Studio Ghibli. A youth film on bittersweet memories about fleeting love and triangular situation in adolescence. Based on the novel by Saeko Himuro. The leading character, Taku Morisaki is a student at an university in Tokyo. He looks back on Rikako Muto, a female classmate in their high school in Kochi Pref (a local city in southern Japan). Back in those days, she had transferred from Tokyo to Kochi because of her parents' divorce. She was a beautiful girl who was excellent in school and sports, and Taku's close friend Yutaka Matsuno fell in love with her. One day she takes a trip with Taku to Tokyo to meet her father. Produced by Young Creators' Group of Studio Ghibli. Directed by Tomomi Mochizuki.<br /><br />Mobile Fighter G Gundam<br />1994-95<br /><a name="GGundam"></a>One of the Gundam sagas. Unlike the serious 'Universal Century Gundam' directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, a laughable and delightful 'martial arts' robot anime going back to the basics of giant robot anime (once called mockingly as 'Robot Wrestling' in the 1970s). In 60 Future Century, to avoid a full-scale war, space-colony nations have managed a proxy war system called 'Gundam Fight', in which each nation sends its representative fighter with Gundam-type robot to the Earth once every four years and makes them fight each other for political hegemony. On the 13th Gundam Fight, a young martial artist Domon Cush on his 'Shinning Gundam', as the representative of the space colony 'Neo Japan', fights against world Gundam fighters, looking for his elder brother Kyoji who seized the supergiant weapon 'Devil Gundam' and ran away to the Earth. 49 episodes. The supervising director is Yasuhiro Imagawa. Produced by Sunrise.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Akazukin Chacha'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenChacha();">Akazukin ChaCha(Red Riding Hood ChaCha)</a><br />1994-95<br /><a name="Chacha"></a>A slapstick comedy based on the girls' manga (graphic novel) by Min Ayahana. The Japanese word 'Akazukin' means 'a red hood' or 'Little Red Riding Hood'. The heroine Chacha is a little girl going to a Magic School to be a witch. The characters are so cute. Directed by Hatsuki Tsuji. The animation production by Studio Gallop. 74 episodes. There is the OAV version too.<br /><br />Magic Knight Rayearth<br />1994-95<br /><a name="Rayearth"></a>A fantastic giant-robot anime like the Japanese RPG set in medieval world. Based on the girls' manga (graphic novel) by CLAMP. The story of 3 junior high girls, Hikaru Shido, Umi Ryuuzaki and Fuu Hououji, who were summoned by another world calld Cefiro, and there fight to save the world, as legendary 'Magic Knights' operating 3 giant robots called 'Mashin' (Magic God): Rayearth, Ceres and Windom. 49 episodes. Directed by Toshihiro Hirano. Produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha. There are the videogame version (action RPG for Sega Saturn) and OAV series too.<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Neon Genesis Evangelion'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenEva();">Neon Genesis Evangelion</a><br />1995-96<br /><a name="Eva"></a>A Sci-Fi anime that succeeds to the spirit of Yamato and Gundam. In near future 'Tokyo-3', a 14-year-old introverted boy named Shinji Ikari operates Evangelion, the general-purpose humanoid fighting machine (gigantic humanoid robot), and fights against unidentified enemies called 'Angels'. Very high quality drawings/animations. Live-action-style direction. Mysterious plot development. Extremely internal psychological descriptions. Pedantic quotations from The Bible, psychoanalysis, biotechnology... The most important and controversial anime work in the 1990s. A product of self-critical consciousness within anime. Directed by Hideaki Anno. Produced by GAINAX and Tatsunoko Production. 26 episodes. The movie 'The End of Evangelion' was a remake of the last 2 episodes of this TV series.<br /><br />Gundam Wing<br />1995-96<br /><a name="GundamW"></a>One of the Gundam sagas. The story of 5 boys (Heero Yuy, Duo Maxwell, Trowa Barton, Quatre Raberba Winner, and Chang Wufei) from the space colonies, who operate 5 Gundams (Wing Gundam, Gundam Deathscythe, Gundam Heavyarms, Gundam Sandrock, and Shenrong Gundam) and fight against the military autocracy of Oz, the secret society of the Earth Allied Forces (in 195 After Colony). Directed by Masashi Ikeda. 49 episodes. Produced by Sunrise. There is the OAV series (the sequel) too.<br /><br />Fushigi Yuugi (The Mysterious Play/Curious Play)<br />1995-96<br /><a name="FushigiYuugi"></a>A fantasy love story based on the girls' manga (graphic novel) by Yuu Watase. The story of a ninth-grade junior high girl named Miaka Yuuki and her best friend Yui Hongo, who wandered off into another world within the book of ancient China. There Miaka became the 'Suzaku no Miko' (a female shaman for Red Chinese Phoenix) to save the Kounan Country with the help of 7 guardian men, and she got into a war with the neighboring Kutou Country, where Yui became the 'Seiryu no Miko' (a shaman for Blue Dragon). Directed by Hajime Kamegaki. 52 episodes. Produced by Studio Pierrot. There are the OAV series (the sequel) too.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Slayers'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenSlayers();">Slayers</a><br />1995<br /><a name="SlayersTV"></a>A fantasy adventure/slapstick comedy set in the world of sword and magic. The story of a girl sorceress named Lina Inverse, who practices powerful offensive magic. Based on the original story by Hajime Kanzaka and the manga (graphic novel) by Rui Araizumi. Directed by Takashi Watanabe. The animation production by Easy Film. 26 episodes. There are the sequel TV series, OAVs and movies.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Tenchi Muyo!/Tenchi Universe (the TV series)'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenTenchi();">Tenchi Muyo!(Tenchi Universe)</a><br />1995<br /><a name="TenchiTV1"></a>See the paragraph about the Tenchi Muyo OAV version. Maybe this TV version is easier to understand than the OAV version and suits the popular taste. Directed by Hiroshi Negishi. 26 episodes. Produced by AIC.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Wedding Peach'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenWeddingPeach();">Wedding Peach</a><br />1995-96<br /><a name="WeddingPeach"></a>A girl's anime on the lines of Sailor Moon. A romantic love story. The heroine is a junior high school girl named Momoko Hanasaki, a member of the newspaper club in the school, who transforms herself into a 'Love Angel' Wedding Peach and fights against the Devils. 51 episodes. Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama. The animation production by KSS. There is the OAV series too.<br />The Vision of Escaflowne<br />1996<br /><a name="EscaTV"></a>A fantastic robot anime in a girl's-manga (graphic novel) style. A high-school girl, Hitomi Kanzaki is transferred to Gaea, another world like medieval world. There she meets Van Fanel, the prince of the Fanellia Kingdom, who fights against the invasion by the Zaibach Empire, operating Escaflowne, one of the giant robotic weapons called Guymelefs. Supervised by Shoji Kawamori. Directed by Kazuki Akane. 26 episodes. Produced by Sunrise. There is the movie version too.<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Martian Successor Nadesico'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenNadesico();">Martian Successor Nadesico</a><br />1996-97<br /><a name="NadesicoTV"></a>A Sci-Fi anime, like the Macross series. The story of Nadesico, the space battleship fighting against the invaders from Jupiter. A comprehensive compilation of various anime elements, like Sci-Fi, giant robot, galactic war, pretty girls, love story, drama, comedy, and so on. The anime within the anime 'Gekiganger 3' was a crafted parody of the 1970s gung-ho robot animes. Directed by Tatsuo Sato. 26 episodes. Produced by XEBEC. There is the movie version too.<br />Revolutionary Girl Utena(La Fillette Révolutionnaire Utena)<br />1996-97<br /><a name="UtenaTV"></a>A cult anime by the director Kunihiko Ikuhara, one of the directors of Sailor Moon series. An ideal and metaphorical film, like an underground theater. The heroine, Utena Tenjou is a junior-high student at The Ohtori Academy and girl dressed as a man, who is involved in strange sword duels over Anthy Himemiya, a mysterious girl called 'The Rose Bride'. A highly critical work, like Evangelion. 39 episodes. The animation production by J.C.STAFF. There is the movie version too.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='You\'re Under Arrest'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenTaiho();">You're Under Arrest(1st series)</a><br />1996-97<br /><a name="TaihoTV1"></a>See the paragraph about the You're Under Arrest OAV version. The 1st TV series based on Kosuke Fujishima's manga (graphic novel). Car/bike action, comedy, love story and so on. 51 episodes (the first 4 episodes were edited versions from the OAV series). Directed by Hiroshi Watanabe and Junji Nishimura. Produced by Studio DEEN. There is the 2nd TV series too.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Magical Girl Pretty Sammy/Magical Project S'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenSammy();">Magical Girl Pretty Sammy(Magical Project S)</a><br />1996-97<br /><a name="SammyTV"></a>A derivative spin-off from the Tenchi Muyo series. A parody of 'Magical Girl' anime genre. The story of a grade school girl named Sasami Kawai, who changes herself into a magical girl Pretty Sammy and fights against another bad magical girl Pixy Misa. Directed by Katsuhito Akiyama. 26 episodes. Produced by AIC. There is the OAV version too.<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Kodomo no Omocha'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenKodocha();">Kodomo no Omocha/Kodocha(Child's Toy)</a><br />1996-98<br /><a name="Kodocha"></a>Based on the girls' manga (graphic novel) by Miho Obana. A slapstick comedy at fast tempos, but the story and themes are too serious. The story of Sana Kurata, a 12-year-old girl who is a child actress. Directed by Akitaroh Daichi. The animation production by Studio Gallop. 102 episodes.<br /><br />Hyper Police<br />1997<br /><a name="HyperPolice"></a>A police action/romantic comedy based on the manga (graphic novel) by Mee. Set in the future Tokyo where humans and demons live side by side. The story of a girl named Natsuki Sasahara, who is half-human, half-demon cat and works as a member of a bounty hunter group to hunt criminals. Directed by Takahiro Oomori. The characters designed by Keiji Goto (the character designer/drawing director of 'Nadesico'). 25 episodes. The animation production by Studio Pierrot.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Shin Tenchi Muyo!/Tenchi in Tokyo'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenShintenchi();">Shin Tenchi Muyo!(Tenchi in Tokyo)</a><br />1997<br /><a name="TenchiTV2"></a>See the paragraph about the Tenchi Muyo OAV version. The 2nd TV version of Tenchi Muyo series. The story of Tenchi Masaki, who starts to live alone in Tokyo, and meets a girl named Sakuya Kumashiro in high school. I think this is inferior to the 1st TV series in quality. Recommended to die-hard Tenchi fans only. Directed by Nobuhiro Takamoto. 26 episodes. Produced by AIC.<br /><br />GaoGaiGar(GaoGaiGar The King of Braves)<br />1997-98<br /><a name="GaoGaiGar"></a>The last and great work of the 'Brave' Series (giant robot animes for boy children in lower grades) by Sunrise. The story of GGG (Gutsy Geoid Guard/three G), the secret defense organization that fights against the invasion by extra-terrestrial intelligent life. A young cyborg named Guy Shishio, as a member of GGG, fuses with machines into the Super Mechanoid 'GaoGaiGar' and fights against the enemy, mechanical life called Zonder. Directed by Yoshitomo Yonetani. 49 episodes. There is the OAV series (the sequel) too.<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Berserk'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenBerserk();">Berserk</a><br />1997-98<br /><a name="Berserk"></a>A faithfully-animated version of the introductory part of 'Berserk', the dark fantasy saga/violent action manga (graphic novel) by Kentaro Miura. The original manga version is a must-read masterpiece. The scene is laid in another world like medieval Europe. The story of a swordman named Guts, who became a member of the 'Hawk Soldiers', a mercenary group led by the charismatic leader Griffith. As a regular army of the Midland Kingdom, the Hawk Soldiers brought to an end the Hundred Years' War against the Tudor Empire, and Griffith got a peerage of the kingdom, but after Guts left, Griffith lost his position, and transmigrated into 'Femto', one of the 'God Hands', by sacrificing the members of the Hawk Soldiers. 25 episodes. Directed by Naohito Takahashi. The animation production by OLM.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Eternal Family'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenEternalFamily();">Eternal Family</a><br />1997-98<br /><a name="EternalFamily"></a>A short film by Koji Morimoto (the director of <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeMe.html#Memories">'Memories/Magnetic Rose'</a>, <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeMe.html#Noiseman">'Noiseman Sound Insect'</a> and <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeMe.html#Animatrix">'The Animatrix/Beyond'</a>) and Studio 4°C. The 53 episodes (29 minutes in total) was aired as a series of TV commercial films for NTTPC Communications' Internet-access service "InfoSphere". The story of six men and women, who are complete strangers to each other, but they are given artificial memories and live together as a family in a capsule home, and their daily lives are covered live on TV as a realistic home drama in "Hodgepodge City" in cyber space. An unique work with a whirl of surreal and funky images. The director/character designer/production designer is Koji Morimoto. Produced by Beyond C.<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='serial experiments lain'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenLain();">serial experiments lain</a><br />1998<br /><a name="Lain"></a>A supernatural psycho-horror anime. The theme is loss of actuality or self-identity crisis in computer network. The story of a junior high school girl named Lain Iwakura, who got e-mail from a self-slaughtered schoolmate, and found another herself in cyberspace called 'Wired'. A difficult and mysterious, but thoughtful film considering critically high-tech mysticism (cyberspace as C. G. Jung's Collective Unconsciousness, David Bohm's Implicate Order, or spiritual world). Directed by Ryutaro Nakamura. 13 episodes. Produced by Triangle Staff. There is the videogame version (Playstation) too.<br />Cowboy Bebop<br />1998-99<br /><a name="CowboyBebop"></a>A cool Sci-Fi action/drama set in the solar system of the year 2071. The leading characters are the quartet of bounty hunters and crew of the interplanetary ship Bebop: Spike Spiegel (a master of Jeet Kune Do), Jet Black (an ex-cop), Faye Valentine (a mysterious woman) and Ed (a hacker girl). Recommended to Lupin III fans. Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe. 26 episodes. Produced by Sunrise. There is also the movie version.<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Trigun'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenTrigun();">Trigun</a><br />1998<br /><a name="Trigun"></a>A Sci-Fi/shoot-'em-up action anime based on the manga (graphic novel) by Yasuhiro Naito. On a future colonized planet, a superhuman gunfighter called Vash the Stampede confronts various accidents as an absolute pacifist who never kills people. The first half was a humane story in Western style. The latter half was a serious story about human life and death, which depicted the fight between Vash and the Gung-Ho-Guns, the gang of murderers controlled by his fatal enemy, Millions Knives. Directed by Satoshi Nishimura. The animation production by Madhouse. 26 episodes.<br /><br />Outlaw Star<br />1998<br /><a name="OutlawStar"></a>A Sci-Fi action/adventure anime set in the future of the space age. The story of a young bounty hunter Gene Starwind, who and his boy partner Jim Hawking had run a handyman firm, 'Starwind and Hawking Enterprises'. They take the spaceship Outlaw Star and explore the mysteries of a girl android Melfina and treasure called 'Dragon vein of Galaxy', fighting against space pirates. Directed by Mitsuru Hongo. The manga (graphic novel) version by Takehiko Ito. Produced by Sunrise. 26 episodes (the 16th and 23rd episodes were not aired on TV).<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Cyber Team in Akihabara'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenAkiden();">Cyber Team in Akihabara</a><br />1998<br /><a name="Akiden"></a>An occult Sci-Fi/comedy set in an alternative, near-future Akihabara (the electric town in Tokyo). The story of a group of girls (Hibari Hanakoganei and her schoolmates) who got ability to summon 'mechanized goddesses' (immortal fighters) called 'Deva', by the plan of the Rose Cross/Rosen Kreuz, a secret society of alchemical scientists. Directed by Yoshitaka Fujimoto. The visual director was Tsukasa Kotobuki. The animation production by Ashi Production. 26 episodes. There is the movie version too.<br /><br />Card Captor Sakura<br />1998-2000<br /><a name="CCSakuraTV"></a>Based on the girls' manga (graphic novel) by CLAMP. The story of a grade school girl named Sakura Kinomoto, who captures magical cards that cause disaster. Directed by Morio Asaka. The animation production by Madhouse. The 1st part consists of 46 episodes. The 2nd part consists of 24 episodes. There are the 2 movie versions. 'Cardcaptors' aired on the US TV was a drastically edited version from this series.<br /><br />Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou/KareKano(His and Her Circumstances)<br />1998-99<br /><a name="KareKano"></a>A comic love story set in high school. Based on the girls' manga (graphic novel) by Masami Tsuda. The story of Yukino Miyazawa, a high-school girl, who had cared too much about her appearance and played the honor student at school, but decided to be herself after falling in love with Soichiro Arima, an excellent boy student like her. Directed by Hideaki Anno. 26 episodes. Produced by J.C.STAFF and GAINAX.<br />Betterman<br />1999<br /><a name="Betterman"></a>A Sci-Fi horror action anime aired at midnight. Created by the staff of GaoGaiGar. The first wide-screen (vista size) anime series on TV. The story about a mysterious mass death phenomenon called Algernon and an enigmatic humanoid existence calld Betterman, who transforms himself into monstrous creatures. Directed by Yoshitomo Yonetani. 26 episodes. Produced by Sunrise.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Ojamajo Doremi'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenDoremi();">Ojamajo Doremi(1st series)</a><br />1999-2000<br /><a name="OjamajoDoremi"></a>A good-quality anime aimed at girl children, filled with laughter and tears. 'Ojamajo' means something like 'a witch nuisance'. The leading character is a grade school girl named Doremi Harukaze, who is a probationary witch. Based on the original story by Izumi Todo and the manga (graphic novel) by Shizue Takanashi. Directed by Junichi Sato (the first director of Sailor Moon series). Produced by Toei Animation. The 1st TV series. 51 episodes. The sequels are recommended too.<br />Mugen no Ryvius (Infinite Ryvius)<br />1999-2000<br /><a name="Ryvius"></a>A Sci-Fi/political drama depicting a group of teenagers who try to survive in an extreme situation. In the 23rd Century, the half of the solar system has been submerged by the sea of high-temperature and high-pressure plasma, called 'Geduld', as a result of abnormal radiation of solar flare. A 16-year-old boy Kouji Aiba and his mates, a total of 487 trainee astronauts drift in outer space, living communally in a giant battleship called 'Ryvius', and fighting against the enemy's attack. Directed by Goro Taniguchi. 26 episodes. Produced by Sunrise.<br /><br />Turn A Gundam<br />1999-2000<br /><a name="TurnAGundam"></a>One of the Gundam sagas. Set in the Earth in the distant future (in CC 2345) when civilization degenerated into the stage of industrial revolution, after the era of space wars called Black History. The Moonrace, the settlers on the Moon, with their Queen Diana Sorel, tried returning to the Earth, and got into a war with the Militia of the Earth. A 17-year-old boy of the Moonrace, Rolan Seak, seeks to follow a path of coexistence between the Earthians and Moonrace, fighting as a member of Militia and the pilot of Turn A Gundam (a relic of 'Black History'). 50 episodes. Directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino. Produced by Sunrise. The movies 'Turn A Gundam: I. Earth Light/II. Moonlight Butterfly' (2002) were the re-edited versions of this TV series (with new scenes added).<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Now and Then, Here and There'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenImaboku();">Now and Then, Here and There</a><br />1999-2000<br /><a name="Imaboku"></a>A serious action adventure/hard fantasy anime, as if Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece 'Future Boy Conan' was made more realistic and harsh. The story of a 14-year-old Japanese boy named Shuzo Matsutani (nicknamed Shu), who was time-warped to the Earth after 5 billion years, where a dictator named Hamdo had ruled the military state Heliwood and had conducted wars of aggression. In that hellish world, where child soldiers commit massacres, and women are forced to produce soldiers' children, Shu tries helping a mysterious girl named Lala Ru, who was abducted by Heliwood. Directed by Akitaroh Daichi. 13 episodes. The animation production by AIC.<br />The Big O<br />1999-2000/2003<br /><a name="BigO"></a>A Sci-Fi/giant-robot anime with a classical and stylish taste, influenced by American cartoons ('Batman' and the like), the US TV drama series of the 1960-70s, and Japanese old 'Tokusatsu' (live-action hero series with special photography/effects, like 'Giant Robo' and 'Ultraman' series). Set in the future city that lost the memories (past histories and technologies), called Paradigm City. The leading character is a man named Roger Smith, who works as a negotiator, and solves variety of cases by operating 'the Big O', a type of the giant robots called 'Mega-deus', developed by hypertechnology of the past. The first season had 13 episodes. Because the first season was aired on the US Cartoon Network and inundated with requests for the sequel, the second season (14th-26th episodes) was produced three years after. Directed by Kazuyoshi Katayama. The screenplay by Chiaki Konaka. Produced by Sunrise.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Love Hina'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenLoveHina();">Love Hina</a><br />2000<br /><a name="LoveHina"></a>A romantic comedy based on the manga (graphic novel) by Ken Akamatsu. The story of a prep school boy named Keitaro Urashima, who aimed to enter the Tokyo University. He became a manager of a women's dormitory (former Japanese-style hotel) with open-air baths, named 'Hinata-sou', at a hot-spring town, and got emotionally involved with a girl tenant named Naru Narusegawa, who was also a student aiming to get into Tokyo Univ. Directed by Yoshiaki Iwasaki. The animation production by XEBEC. 25 episodes (the 25th episode was not aired on TV) and 2 TV specials. There is the OAV series too.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Vandread'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenVandread();">Vandread</a><br />2000<br /><a name="Vandread"></a>A Sci-Fi mecha action/romantic comedy like 'Macross' series and 'Nadesico'. The story of a 16-year-old boy named Hibiki Tokai, a mechanic from the planet Tarak (male-only military state), who came upon a gang of female pirates from the planet Mejale (all-women state), and lives with them in a battleship called Nirvana, fighting against unknown enemies' attack. 'Vandread' is a fighting mecha formed by combination of Tarak's powered suit 'Vanguard' and Mejale's fighter 'Dread'. The mecha action by using 3-D CG is cool. 13 episodes. Directed by Takeshi Mori. Produced by Gonzo. There is also the sequel (the second stage).<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='NieA_7 (Niea Under Seven)'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenNieA_7();">NieA_7 (Niea Under Seven)</a><br />2000<br /><a name="NieA_7"></a>A Sci-Fi/domestic comedy anime aired on the satellite channel WOWOW in 2000. Set in Japan of the future world where aliens have emigrated to the Earth and live among humans. The leading characters are: a dirt-poor preparatory school girl Mayuko Chigasaki, who rooms at a public bathhouse 'Enohana-Yu' in an old town and goes to prep school in Tokyo, working part-time, and Niea, an alien girl branded as the rank '_7' (the lowest degree of contribution to the Earth), who somehow stays at Mayuko's room and lives off Mayuko. A unique anime with nonsense laughableness and quiet lyricism. The original story by gK (Geronimo Hongo and Kuso Sensei). The original character design by Yoshitoshi Abe (the original character designer of 'serial experiments lain'). The screenplay and direction by Takuya Sato. 13 episodes. The animation produced by Triangle Staff. There is also the manga version by Yoshitoshi Abe and gK.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='s-CRY-ed'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenScryed();">s-CRY-ed</a><br />2001<br /><a name="Scryed"></a>A Sci-Fi martial-arts action anime by Goro Taniguchi (direction) and Yosuke Kuroda (screenplay), the duo of 'Infinite Ryvius'. In the near future in the early 21st century, a great crustal uplift phenomenon made a part of the Kanagawa Pref. an island isolated from Japan's mainland, called the 'Lost Ground'. Some people born in the Lost Ground developed a special ability (called 'Alter') to deconstruct matter and alter it to different things. Two boys who have Alter abilities, Kazuma (born in an undeveloped area in Lost Ground) and Ryuhou (a member of 'HOLY', special forces against Alter users) are locked in a rivalry, and fight hard each other with their Alter abilities. 26 episodes. The animation produced by Sunrise. There is also the manga version (scenario: Yosuke Kuroda, art: Yasunari Toda).<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Noir'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenNoir();">Noir</a><br />2001<br /><a name="Noir"></a>A hard-boiled shoot-'em-up action and pessimistic criminal movie in the film noir style. The story of a girl duo, Mireille Bouquet (a French from a Corsican mafia) and Kirika Yuumura (a Japanese-named girl who lost her memory), who work as assassins in underworld with the codename 'Noir', and fight against a mysterious secret organization called 'Solda'. The original planning and screenplay by Ryoue Tsukimura. Directed by Koichi Mashita. 26 episodes. The animation production by Bee Train.<br /><br />Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden<br />2001<br /><a name="Mahoro"></a>A Sci-Fi/romantic comedy based on the original story by Bunjuro Nakayama and manga (graphic novel) by Bow Ditama. The story of a girl named Mahoro, who was once a combat android fighting against invading weapons by aliens from outer space, but she became a live-in maid and started to live with an eighth-grade junior high boy named Suguru Misato, who had lost his parents and lived alone. Faithful to the original manga version, for good or ill. 12 episodes. The direction and screenplay by Hiroyuki Yamaga. Produced by GAINAX and Shaft. There is the sequel TV series too.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Beyblade'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenBeyblade();">Beyblade(1st series)</a><br />2001<br /><a name="Beyblade"></a>'Beyblade' is a spinning-top toy for kids, developed by Takara, the Japanese toy company, based on the Japanese traditional top toy called 'Bei-goma'. Beyblade is an advanced 'Bei-goma', which is customizable by changing the five parts: bit chip, attack ring, weight disk, spin gear and blade base. The TV anime series is based on the original manga (graphic novel) by Takao Aoki, and produced by the collaboration between South Korea and Japan. The Korean title is 'Topblade'. The story of beyblade players (beybladers), a grade school boy Takao Kinomiya and his rivals, who play exciting 'Bey-battle' games for being the world's strongest beyblader. 51 episodes. The animation production by Madhouse. There are the sequel TV series, movie version and game versions (GameBoy etc) too.<br /><br />Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi<br />2002<br /><a name="Abesho"></a>A Sci-Fi slapstick comedy by Gainax (the concept and original story). A boy living in Abenobashi shopping arcade in downtown Osaka, Imamiya Satoshi (Sasshi) and his early childhood girlfriend, Arumi Asahina get lost in a variety of the parallel worlds of magical shopping arcade Abenobashi one after another, such as fantasy computer role-playing game, sci-fi, Hong Kong kung-fu, jurassic period, hardboiled, and romantic comedy set in school. Based on the unique setting in which Abe no Seimei's Onmyodo is used to resemble a kind of supernatural science and technology. 13 episodes. Each episode has lots of parodies from anime (1970s robot anime, Mobile Suit Gundam, Neon Genesis Evangelion and others), manga (Kyojin no Hoshi/Star of the Giants, Doraemon, Hokuto no Ken/Fist of the North Star, Dragon Ball and others), tokusatsu (Ultraman series and others), game (Dragon Quest/Dragon Warrior series, dating games such as To Heart, Sentimental Graffiti and Kanon), and films (2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Wars, The Terminator, The Thing, The Shining, Duel, Indiana Jones, Titanic, Back to the Future and others). The high-quality animations full of popping actions are worth seeing. The original concept and direction by Hiroyuki Yamaga. The series director is Masayuki Kojima. The story composition by Satoru Akahori and Hiroyuki Yamaga. The oroginal character design by Kenji Tsuruta. The character design and animation direction by Tadashi Hiramatsu. The animation produced by Madhouse. There are also the manga versions (Kenji Tsuruta, Ryusei Deguchi) and novel version (Satoru Akahori).<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Azumanga-Daioh: The Animation'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenAzumanga();">Azumanga-Daioh: The Animation</a><br />2002<br /><a name="Azumanga"></a>A laid-back and carefree comedy depicting the daily life of high-school girls with distinctive personalities. Based on the popular four-panel comic strips, 'Azumanga-Daioh' by Kiyohiko Azuma (serialized in 'Monthly Comic Dengeki Daioh' in 1999-2002). The main characters are 7 high-school girls: Chiyo Mihama (a girl genius who entered high school at age ten), Ayumu Kasuga (easygoing. Called 'Osaka'), Tomo Takino (vigorous), Koyomi Mizuhara (cool-headed. Called 'Yomi'), Sakaki (large and reticent. An animal lover), Kaorin (feeling love for Sakaki) and Kagura (all-round sportswoman), and teachers: Yukari Tanizaki (an unconventional female teacher of English), Minamo Kurosawa (a female physical education teacher. Called 'Nyamo') and Mr. Kimura (a teacher of classical Japanese. Suspicious man). 26 episodes. Directed by Hiroshi Nishikiori. Produced by GENCO. The animation produced by J.C.STAFF. There is the theatrical short film (5 minutes) released in 2001, before the start of the TV series.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Galaxy Angel (2nd season)'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenGA2();">Galaxy Angel (2nd season)</a><br />2002<br /><a name="GA2"></a>The second season (18 episodes) aired on terrestrial TV, following the first season (26 episodes) of the TV series aired on cable TV in 2001. A Sci-Fi slapstick comedy featuring cute girl characters. The leading characters are the five members (all female) of 'Angel Troop', the special forces of interstellar state Transbalt Kingdom: Milfeulle Sakuraba (17 years old. Cheerful and easygoing. A cooking lover), Ranpha Franboise (18. Aggressive and get-tough. An expert in martial arts), Mint Blancmanche (16. A well-bred girl from a rich family. A cosplay lover), Forte Stollen (22. A big sister. A gun maniac) and Vanilla H (13. A reticent girl with healing power). The planning and original story by <a href="http://wholesale.animegamers.com/">Broccoli</a>. Directed by Morio Asaka and Toshimitsu Ohashi. The animation production by Madhouse. There are also the third/forth season of the TV anime series, PC games, video games, manga version and novel version.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='RahXephon'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenXephon();">RahXephon</a><br />2002<br /><a name="Xephon"></a>A mystical Sci-Fi/Giant Robot anime that looks just like 'Neon Genesis Evangelion'. In the year 2027, Tokyo had been occupied by mysterious invaders called 'Mu', and it has formed 'Tokyo Jupiter', a domed space isolated from the outside. A 17-year-old high school boy Ayato Kamina, who had united with a giant humanoid super weapon called 'RahXephon' and escaped from Tokyo Jupiter, fights against Mu's super weapons called 'Dolem', as a member of counter-Mu strategic research institute 'Terra', operating RahXephon. 26 episodes. Directed by Yutaka Izubuchi, who is known as a designer/illustrator (mechanical design in 'Patlabor The Mobile Police' and others). The original works by Bones and Yutaka Izubuchi. The animation produced by Bones. There is the movie version, <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeMe.html#XephonM">RahXephon: Pluralitas Concentio (Pluralistic Variation)</a> (2003) too.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='.hack//SIGN'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenDotHack();">.hack//SIGN</a><br />2002<br /><a name="DotHack"></a>The TV anime series produced as part of the multimedia project, ".hack" by Bandai Group, which is centered on the worldview of a fictional network game called 'The World'. The story of a girl who plays a boy character named 'Tsukasa' in 'The World', the fantasy RPG-style, virtual online game. One day it got impossible for Tsukasa to log out from the game world. After meetings and interactions with fellows within 'The World', Tsukasa tries going back to the real world. 25 episodes and one extra episode not aired on TV. The original characters designed by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto ('Neon Genesis Evangelion'). The screenplay by Kazunori Ito ('Patlabor The Mobile Police'). Directed by Koichi Mashita ('Noir'). The animation production by Bee Train. There are also the videogame (RPG) series ".hack" for PlayStation2 with OAVs, the novelized versions, manga (graphic novel) versions, and the second TV anime series ".hack//DUSK - Legend of Twilight's Bracelet" (2003).<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Haibane Renmei (Charcoal Feather Federation)'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenHaibane();">Haibane Renmei (Charcoal Feather Federation)</a><br />2002<br /><a name="Haibane"></a>A fantasy drama based on the manga (graphic novel) 'The Haibanes of Old Home', self-published as a noncommercial magazine (issued in 2000/2001) by Yoshitoshi Abe (the character designer of 'serial experiments lain' and 'NieA_7'). The story of the girls who were reborn as mysterious existences called 'Haibane', with aureoles (halos) above their heads and gray wings on their backs, not human and not angel. They had lost their memories of their previous lives, and they are living and working in a town called 'Glie', which is surrounded by walls and isolated from the outside. 13 episodes. The original works and screenplay by Yoshitoshi Abe. Directed by Tomokazu Tokoro. The animation produced by RADIX.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Princess Tutu'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenTutu();">Princess Tutu</a><br />2002-2003<br /><a name="Tutu"></a>A comedic, surreal and serious fantasy anime with abundant quotations from ballet music and motifs. Set in a mysterious world in which reality is mixed with stories. The story of a girl named Ahiru, who was nothing but a duck in reality, but she studies ballet at the art school Kinkan Academy. She adored a senior boy Mytho, but she learned that he was actually the prince in the story 'The Prince ane the Raven' written by writer Drosselmeyer, and Mytho lost his heart because of the fight against the raven. Ahiru transforms herself into a ballerina 'Princess Tutu' and tries recapturing the fragments of Mytho's lost heart. The original conception, character design and animation supervised by Ikuko Ito, who is known as an animator of 'Sailor Moon' series and others. Directed by Shogo Koumoto. The supervising director is Junichi Sato. The animation produced by Hal Film Maker. 26 episodes. Recommended to those who like ballet and classical music, or 'Revolutionary Girl Utena'.<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenSAC();">Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex</a><br />2002-2003<br /><a name="SAC"></a>The new TV series with a completely original storyline, produced seven years after <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeMe.html#Koukaku">the movie version 'Ghost in the Shell'</a>, based on the manga (graphic novel) by Masamune Shirow. Set in Japan in 2030, near-future with electronic networks running throughout the world and people cyber-brained and cyborged. The members of Public Security Section 9, an independent unit under the direct control of the Department of Interior, called 'Kokaku Kidotai' (special power-suit assault force), a female cyborg Motoko Kusanagi (the Major) and other team members confront various cases, such as cybercrime, political corruption, heinous murder and assassination. Unlike the 'art film' style movie version directed by Mamoru Oshii, highbrow and entertaining works enjoyable as a police action/detective drama. Aired on pay-TV of digital satellite broadcasting. An ultra-quality TV series with high-definition, full-digital images and 5.1 channel surround sound. 26 episodes. The original works and cooperation by Masamune Shirow. Directed by Kenji Kamiyama. Produced by Production I.G. There is also the sequel TV series <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeTe.html#SAC2nd">'Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG'</a> (2004-2005, directed by Kenji Kamiyama).<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Stellvia (Uchuu no Stellvia)'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenStellvia();">Stellvia (Uchuu no Stellvia)</a><br />2003<br /><a name="Stellvia"></a>A Sci-Fi/campus-life drama set in the solar system of the future. In the year 2356 A.D., 189 years after the electromagnetic wave and radiation from a supernova explosion caused a catastrophic damage to the earth. A 15-year-old girl Shima Katase (nickname: Shiipon) enters the Space Academy in 'Stellvia', one of the space stations called 'foundations'. As a student of the preparatory course for pilots, she participates in the project 'Great Mission' to protect the solar system from the second catastrophe (shock wave from the supernova). 26 episodes. The original story by XEBEC. Directed and the series organized by Tatsuo Sato (the director of <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeTe.html#NadesicoTV">'Martian Successor Nadesico'</a>). The charecter design by Makoto Uno (the character designer of <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeTe.html#LoveHina">'Love Hina'</a>). The animation produced by XEBEC. There are also the manga and game (PlayStation2, GameBoy Advance) versions.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Fullmetal Alchemist'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenHagaRen();">Fullmetal Alchemist</a><br />2003-2004<br /><a name="HagaRen"></a>The TV anime series based on the manga by female manga artist Hiromu Arakawa (serialized in the magazine monthly 'Shonen GanGan' since 2001). A fantasy adventure set in another world where alchemy has evolved, and a serious political drama with heavy themes such as life-and-death problem. The story of a boy named Edward Elric (Ed) and his younger brother Alphonse (Al), who try to bring their deceased mother back to life using the forbidden science of human alchemy, but they fail in it, and Ed loses his left leg, and Al loses his whole body. Ed is able to settle Al's soul inside a suit of armor at the cost of his right arm, and he wears mechanical limbs called "Auto Mail" in his right arm and left leg. To regain their lost bodies, the Elric Brothers travel in search of "Philosopher's Stone". The anime version is different in setting and plot from the original manga version. 51 episodes. Directed by Seiji Mizushima. The story editor is Sho Aikawa. The animation produced by Bones. <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeMe.html#HagaRenMovie">"Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shambala"</a> (released in 2005) is the sequel to the TV series.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='R.O.D -The TV-'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenRodTV();">R.O.D -The TV-</a><br />2003-2004<br /><a name="RodTV"></a>See the paragraph about the <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeOe.html#Rod">'R.O.D: Read Or Die' OAV series</a>. The new TV series of 'R.O.D', the media-mix of manga (graphic novel), novel and OAV (Original Animaion Video). An 'academic/literary' spy action anime featuring the three sisters of Michelle Cheung, Maggie Mui and Anita King, who have special abilities to manipulate paper with complete control. The story several years after Yomiko Readman (the leading character of the OAV version) disappeared. The first half is in a sitcom style, in which the trio of Michelle, Maggie and Anita, who had run the 'Three Sisters Detective Agency' in Hong Kong, came to Japan and started living with Nenene Sumiregawa, a female novelist. The latter half is a serious and tragic drama, in which the three sisters and Yomiko fight against the conspiracy of the Great Britain Library. A high-quality TV anime that compares favorably with the OAV version. 26 episodes. The original story and screenplay by Hideyuki Kurata. Directed by Koji Masunari. The animation production by J.C.STAFF.<br />Planetes<br />2003-2004<br /><a name="Planetes"></a>A realistic Sci-Fi drama set in future (the year 2075), where people live and work on the moon and space stations. Based on Makoto Yukimura's manga (serialized in the magazine weekly 'Morning' since 1999 until 2004). The leading character is a 25-year-old Japanese young man Hachirota Hoshino (called 'Hachimaki', it means Japanese headband), who works as a professional astronaut collecting space junks called 'debris', at the Debris Section of Technora, the space development company located within the International Space Station. He was in charge of training a new female employee assigned to the Debris Section, named Ai Tanabe. At the beginning they had been in a conflict with each other, but they gradually developed a close relationship through a variety of experiences. An excellent human drama dealing with subjects with sense of reality and sociality, such as the life and romance of salaried workers living in the space age, the North-South problem and terrorism caused by space development, and the project to fly a spaceship to Jupiter. The original story by Makoto Yukimura. The screenplay by Ichiro Okouchi. The character design by Yuriko Chiba. Directed by Goro Taniguchi. 26 episodes. The animation produced by Sunrise.<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Paranoia Agent (Mousou Dairinin)'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenMousou();">Paranoia Agent (Mousou Dairinin)</a><br />2004<br /><a name="Mousou"></a>The first TV anime series directed by Satoshi Kon, the director of the movies, <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeMe.html#PerfectBlue">'Perfect Blue'</a>, <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeMe.html#Chiyoko">'Millennium Actress'</a> and <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeMe.html#TokyoGodfathers">'Tokyo Godfathers'</a>. An unique psycho-suspense set in the world as a mixture of reality and delusion. A female character designer, Tsukiko Sagi made a statement to the police that she was assaulted by a boy with a golden baseball bat. A detective, Keiichi Ikari suspected that she faked the case, but after that the people around her are attacked one after another by the unidentified assailant called 'Shounen Bat (A Bat Boy)'... A masterpiece that depicted humorously and critically 'darkness of mind' in modern Japanese society, with the theme of 'delusion as a defense mechanism against trauma'. 13 episodes. The original story and general supervision by Kon Satoshi. The characters designed by Masashi Ando (the animation director of the movies, <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeMe.html#Mononoke">'Princess Mononoke'</a> and <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeMe.html#Sen">'Spirited Away'</a>). The animation produced by Madhouse. The music by Susumu Hirasawa.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Genshiken: The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenGenshiken();">Genshiken: The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture</a><br />2004<br /><a name="Genshiken"></a>The TV anime series based on the manga by Shimoku Kio (serialized in the magazine monthly 'Afternoon' since 2002), which is a comedic drama depicting otaku's real campus life. A freshman in Shiiou University, Kanji Sasahara joined manga/anime/game lovers' club named 'the Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture' (called 'Genshiken' for short). His classmate, Makoto Kousaka was a boy with good looks and good fashion sense, so he didn't look like an otaku, but he was actually a diehard otaku, and he also joined Genshiken. Kousaka's childhood girlfriend, Saki Kasukabe (she is not an otaku) wanted Kousaka to stop doing otaku hobbies, and she became to frequent Genshiken's club room, following Kousaka. 12 episodes. Directed by Takashi Ikehata. The animation produced by Palm Studio. Produced by GENCO. Genshiken members' favorite anime 'Kujibiki Unbalance' is a fictitious TV anime series (anime within the anime), but the three episodes (1st, 21st and 25th ones) of the series were really made into films and released on the bonus disc for 'Genshiken' DVD box sets.<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd Gig'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenSAC2nd();">Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd Gig</a><br />2004-2005<br /><a name="SAC2nd"></a>The second TV series produced as a follow-up series to <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeTe.html#SAC">'Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex'</a>. The story describes the Public Security Section 9 battling against a political plot with the refugee problem and Japan-U.S. Security Treaty in the background. Six months after the 'Laughing Man Case' (a serial cyberterrorism incident described in the first series), the Section 9 members investigate the case of terrorists who call themselves 'Individual Eleven', and find out the Cabinet Intelligence Agency manipulating the case behind the scenes. The storyline has a more politico-military flavor than the first series. 26 episodes. The original works and cooperation by Masamune Shirow. The story concept by Mamoru Oshii. Directed by Kenji Kamiyama. Produced by Production I.G.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Sgt. Frog/Keroro Gunso (1st season)'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenKeroroTV1();">Sgt. Frog/Keroro Gunso (1st season)</a><br />2004-2005<br /><a name="KeroroTV1"></a>The first season of the TV anime series based on the manga 'Keroro Gunso' by Mine Yoshizaki (serialized in the magazine 'Monthly Shonen Ace' since 1999). The original manga is a comendy featuring a platoon of frog-like alien invaders who try to conquer the Earth. The Planet Keron sent Keroro's platoon (the captain Sergeant Keroro, Corporal Giroro, Corporal Zeroro (later Dororo), Sergeant Major Kururu, Private Second Class Tamama) as an advance team to invade the Earth, but they broke up on the Earth. Keroro was captured by the Hinata Family (junior high girl Natsumi Hinata, her younger brother Fuyuki and her mother Aki), and then strangely they came to live with Earthians. A daily life-based Sci-Fi comedy, like Fujio F. Fujiko's 'Doraemon' and Rumiko Takahashi's 'Urusei Yatsura', with lots of parodies and quotes from Fujiko works, Sunrise's 'Gundam' series, 'Neon Genesis Evangelion', and Tokusatsu Hero works such as 'Ultra' series. The first season (51 episodes) is generally faithful to the original manga's story, though it is arranged for children. Directed by Yusuke Yamamoto. The supervising director is Jun'ichi Sato. The animation produced by Sunrise.<br /><br />Air<br />2005<br /><a name="AirTV"></a>A TV anime series based on VisualArt's/Key's love romance (dating-sim) video game for Windows PC/Dreamcast/PlayStation2, "Air". The original game is known for its touching story about family's love. The story of a young man Yukito Kunisaki, who has traveled around, performing a puppet play on the streets. He met a girl named Misuzu Kamio in a seaside town. She is a lonely girl who cannot make friends because of her weird disease (related to a traditional folk tale about a 'Winged Princess'). Yukito makes friends with her, and stays at her home, where she lives with her mother Haruko Kamio (her aunt in reality). There are the 12 episodes, one recap episode and two special episodes "Air in Summer". Aired on TBS's digital satellite TV BS-i. This TV series has been highly appreciated by many anime/original game fans for its extremely superior quality of animation/direction and its story faithful to the original game. Directed by Tatsuya Ishihara. The animation produced by Kyoto Animation. There is also the movie version produced by Toei Animation.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Aria The Animation'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenAria();">Aria The Animation</a><br />2005<br /><a name="Aria"></a>A healing fantasy based on Kozue Amano's manga 'ARIA' (serialized in 'Monthly Comic Blade' since 2002). Set in a watery city of Neo Venezia, like Venice, Italy, on a terraformed planet 'Aqua'. In Neo Venezia, female gondoliers called 'Undines' act as guides for tourists. The leading character, Akari Mizunashi is an Undine in training who belongs to Aria Company. To be a full-fledged Undine, she practices rowing a gondola and guiding tourists with her friends, Aika and Alice, and senior worker Alicia. A heartwarming story with natural beauties of all four seasons. The first season of the TV series 'Aria The Animation' consists of 13 episodes. The direction and series composition by Jun'ichi Sato. The character designer and chief animation director is Makoto Koga. The animation produced by Hal Film Maker. There is also the second season of the TV series 'Aria The Natural' (26 episodes, aired in 2006).<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Kamichu!'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenKamichu();">Kamichu!</a><br />2005-2006<br /><a name="Kamichu"></a>An original TV anime series produced by the staff of the OAV/TV anime 'R.O.D' (2001-2004); the director Koji Masunari and scriptwriter Hideyuki Kurata. A nostalgic and heartwarming situation comedy/fantasy set in a Japanese country town of the mid-1980s (modeled after Onomichi City, Hiroshima Pref.). The story describes daily lives of an eighth grade junior high girl Yurie Hitotsubashi, who woke up one morning and found she became a goddess, and her friends and family, with the ancient Japanese world-view of 'multitudinous gods' (gods reside in all the things in the universe). There is no dramatic development, but its drawings and presentation are exquisite, and its closely-depicted daily lives have a subtle charm, full of affectionateness and cuteness. 16 episodes (the four episodes are not aired on TV and only released on DVD). The original story by Besame Mucho (producer Tomonori Ochikoshi, Koji Masunari and Hideyuki Kurata). This film won the excellence prize of Cultural Affairs Agency's Media Art Festival in Japan. The animation produced by Brains-Base. There is also the manga version drawn by Hanaharu Naruko.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Eureka seveN'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenEureka();">Eureka seveN</a><br />2005-2006<br /><a name="Eureka"></a>A straight-ahead Sci-Fi/robot anime which follows the settings and touches of the classics such as 'Mobile Suit Gundam' and 'Neon Genesis Evangelion', and also incorporates new elements like extreme sport and street culture. Basically a classical boy-meets-girl or boy's growing-up story set in wartime. Set in the 'Promised Land', a place mankind immigrated after they were driven from the Earth. A 14-year-old boy Renton Thurston joins an antiestablishment group 'Gekkostate' led by charismatic leader Holland. The military (United Federation Force) tries to destroy the heterologous intelligent life called 'Coralian' for revival of human civilization, but the Gekkostate tries to coexist with Coralian. Renton and a humanoid Coralian girl Eureka operate a LFO (Light Finding Operation. A giant humanoid mobile machine) called 'Nirvash typeZERO' and fight against the military. 50 episodes. The original works by Bones. Directed by Tomoki Kyoda. The series composition by Dai Sato. The character design by Ken'ichi Yoshida. The animation produced by Bones. There are also the manga/novel/video game (PlayStation Portable/PlayStation2) versions.<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Mushishi'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenMushishi();">Mushishi</a><br />2005-2006<br /><a name="Mushishi"></a>The TV anime series based on the manga by female manga artist Yuki Urushibara (serialized in the magazine monthly 'Afternoon' since 1999). A nostalgic, magical and Japanese-style fantasy set in Japan in fictional times, like between the Edo and Meiji Periods (around the 19th century). 'Mushi' are the things in the primal form of life, which are not plants nor animals, and different from microorganisms and fungi. The leading character is a man named Ginko, who unlocks the mysteries of strange phenomena result from Mushi, as a Mushi-shi (a specialist in Mushi phenomenon), wandering around in the farming/fishing villages, woods and mountains. 26 episodes. The anime version is quite faithful to the original manga. The animation, background art and sound, everything is good in quality. Many impressive episodes, which are full of the spiritous ambience of Japanese original landscape surrounded by nature, are depicted in the style of folk tales or ghost stories (each episode ends in itself). Very much worth seeing. Directed by Hiroshi Nagahama. The character design and animation direction by Yoshihiko Umakoshi. The animation produced by Art Land. The live-action film version directed by Katsuhiro Otomo will be released in 2007.<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenSACSSS();">Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society</a><br />2006<br /><a name="SACSSS"></a>A one-shot feature-length film (105 minutes) produced by the same staff as the TV series <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeTe.html#SAC">'Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex'</a> and <a href="http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/animeTe.html#SAC2nd">'Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG'</a>. Set in A.D. 2034, two years since Motoko Kusanagi left Section 9 after the Refugee Riot Case described in '2nd GIG'. The new leader Togusa and the new Section 9 investigate a rash of incidents, such as a series of terrorists' suicides, biochemical weapon (micromachine virus) theft and child abduction case, and find that an ultra-wizard hacker 'Kugutsu Mawashi' (means Puppeteer), who actives as the cyberbrain hub of an elderly care system, is behind the scenes. In Japan, this film was premiered on pay-TV of digital satellite broadcasting 'SKY PerfecTV!' in 2006 and then released on DVD. Not released in theaters, but its quality is as good as theatrical films. The original story by Masamune Shirow. Directed by Kenji Kamiyama. Produced by Production I.G.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenHaruhi();">The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya</a><br />2006<br /><a name="Haruhi"></a>A sci-fi/school comedy anime based on the light novel (Japanese novel with anime or manga style illustrations, targeting teens and young adults) 'Haruhi Suzumiya' series (published by Kadokawa Shoten since 2003) written by Nagaru Tanigawa and illustrated by Noizi Ito. The leading character, Haruhi Suzumiya is a good-looking high school girl who is excellent in schoolwork and sports, but she is also an eccentric girl with self-centered character and overbearing attitude. One day she tries to create a club named 'SOS Brigade', involving a boy nicknamed Kyon in her class, and the purpose of the club is to find and play with aliens, time travelers and espers. 14 episodes. A romantic comedy set in school and a sci-fi about inner space (parallel world) theme. Can be interpreted as a self-parody of Sekai-kei (a vague genre of manga/anime/novel that appeared after the boom of the anime 'Neon Genesis Evangelion'. Characterized by its psychology-oriented "first-and-second-person-view" without social relationships), but it is not so clear in theme and self-criticism as 'Evangelion'. The key/in-between animation and direction are excellent in quality. Directed by Tatsuya Ishihara. The character designer and chief animation director is Shoko Ikeda. The animation produced by Kyoto Animation.<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenGeass();">Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion</a><br />2006-2007<br /><a name="Geass"></a>A sci-fi robot anime produced by Sunrise. Set in a fictitious, near-future Japan which is occupied by the Holy Empire of Britannia, an absolute monarchy with great military power. A mystery girl C.C. (C-Two) gives an ability to manipulate people, called 'Geass', to Lelouch Lamperouge, a Britannian high-school boy living in Japan. To revenge the Britannian imperial family who killed his mother and hurt his younger sister, Lelouch organizes an anti-Britannia armed group called the 'Black Knights' with Japanese resistances and leads the rebellion to destroy Britannia, under the name of 'Zero'. Lelouch is a cold strategist, who doesn't hesitate to do anything to attain his purpose, and he moves people like chess pieces. Through the war against Britannia, using humanoid weapons called 'Knightmare Frames', Lelouch becomes to fight against his childhood friend Suzaku Kururugi (he is a Japanese but joins the Britannia Army as a 'Honorary Britannian'), and he proceeds to the path of bloodshed, in which family members and friends kill each other. A serious political drama featuring a picaresque protagonist as an anti-hero. 25 episodes. The series composition by Ichiro Okouchi. The original character design by CLAMP. Directed by Goro Taniguchi. The story is not completed and the sequel series will be produced.<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Death Note'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenDeathno();">Death Note</a><br />2006-2007<br /><a name="Deathno"></a>A TV anime series (37 episodes) based on the best-selling manga 'Death Note' (serialized in the magazine <a href="http://www.shonenjump.com/">Weekly Shonen Jump</a> in 2003-2006) by Tsugumi Ohba (story) and Takeshi Obata (art). A psycho-suspense film depicting the battle between a mass murderer and a master detective. One day, a high school boy Light Yagami picks up a strange black notebook. It is a 'Death Note' dropped by a shinigami named Ryuk, and it kills anyone whose name is written in it. Light kills criminals around the world one after another by using the Death Note to create an ideal new world without criminals. Meanwhile, a mysterious detective 'L' begins investigating the case with the help of ICPO (Interpol), and then, a fatal and psychological/intellectual cat-and-mouse battle begins between the two extremely intelligent young men, Light and L. In this TV series, the original manga's storyline was made into anime generally faithfully, but in the second part (after the death of L, Light battles against L's two successors, Near and Mello), lots of scenes and dialogs are cut and the whole is shortened. Directed by Tetsuro Araki. The animation produced by Madhouse. There are also the live-action films, a novel version by Ishin Nishio and game versions (for Nintendo DS).<br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Dennō Coil'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenDennoCoil();">Dennō Coil</a><br />2007<br /><a name="DennoCoil"></a>A Sci-Fi anime aired on NHK Educational TV. The directorial debut by Mitsuo Iso, a key animator known for his works such as "Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket", "Gosenzosama Ban Banzai!", "Ghost in the Shell" and "Neon Genesis Evangelion". Set in the near future Japan. A wearable computer called 'Dennō eyeglass', which is connected to the network at all times and it visualizes cyberspace, became an extremely popular item among children. Two sixth-grade girls transferred to the school in Daikoku-city, Yuko Okonogi (nicknamed Yasako) and Yuko Amasawa (nicknamed Isako) approach the secrets about cyberspace, such as mysterious virtual organism called 'illegals', an urban legend (like a ghost story) about a girl named Michiko, a relationship between Dennō eyeglass and cyber-medical treatment, and a phenomenon called 'Dennō Coil'. An impressive film which is a hard cyber Sci-Fi, and a decent juvenile drama, and also a psychological thriller dealing with the theme of cyberspace as spiritual world, like 'serial experiments lain'. The nostalgic world-view with a mix of oldness and newness is unique. 26 episodes. The original story, screenplay and direction by Mitsuo Iso. The character design by Takeshi Honda. The animation produced by Madhouse. There is also the novel version by Yuko Miyamura (screenwriter).<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='Clannad'; return true" href="javascript:WindowOpenClannad();">Clannad</a><br />2007-2008<br /><a name="Clannad"></a>A TV anime series based on VisualArt's/Key's third dating-sim game, "Clannad". Along with the two previous works, "Kanon" and "Air", produced by Kyoto Animation. The original is a game for all ages and known for its touching stories about the bonds of people, especially family. The TV anime is based on the first part set in a high school, and the story develops around the leading character, a third-year high school boy Tomoya Okazaki and the main heroine Nagisa Furukawa (a shy girl who aims to rebuild the drama club), with other heroines' episodes. Like other Kyoto Animation films, it has high-quality animation, art and rendition. 22 episodes and two extra episodes. Directed by Tatsuya Ishihara. There are also the movie version produced by Toei Animation and the sequel TV series "Clannad -After Story-".Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01924263999017748089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914027483132754571.post-84938713793117871992008-11-10T07:26:00.000-08:002008-11-10T07:51:03.691-08:00Recommended Japanese Anime Movies ListRecommended Japanese Anime Movies List:<br /><br />The Legend of the White Snake (Hakujaden) 1958 The first full-color, feature-length cartoon movie in Japan. Based on the Chinese folktale 'Bai Su Zhen/The Legend of the White Snake', also known as the Beijing Opera. The fantasy romance story of love between a young man Xu Xian and a white-snake personified fairy woman Bai Nyang. An aesthetic work full of Chinese taste. The screenplay and direction by Taiji Yabushita. Produced by Toei Animation.<br />The Adventures of Little Samurai (Shonen Sarutobi Sasuke) 1959 The second of the feature-length cartoon films by Toei Animation. A ninja/samurai action set in Japan's medieval period of Warring States. Based on Kazuo Dan's novel in a newspaper. The story of a boy named Sasuke Sarutobi, who did the training of ninjutsu under a ninjutsu-master Hakuunsai Tozawa, and fights with the samurai warrior Yukimura Sanada against an evil enchantress Yasha-Hime (Princess Yasha). The first CinemaScope animated film in Japan. Directed by Taiji Yabushita and Akira Daikuhara.<br />Saiyuki<br />(Alakazam the Great) 1960 The third of the feature-length cartoon films by Toei Animation. Based on Osamu Tezuka's manga (graphic novel), 'Boku no Son Goku/Son-Goku the Monkey', an adaptation of the Chinese classical fantasy novel 'Hsi Yu Chi/Journey to the West'. The comedy action story of Son Goku, a monkey boy with supernatural arts, who takes an adventurous journey with Chinese Buddhist priest Sanzo-hoshi to India in order to get the Buddhist texts. Directed by Taiji Yabushita, Osamu Tezuka and Daisaku Shirakawa. The English-dubbed version entitled 'Alakazam the Great' was released in the US.<br />Anju to Zushio-maru<br />(The Littlest Warrior) 1961 The fourth of the feature-length cartoon films by Toei Animation. Based on "Anju to Zushio (Anju and Zushio)", which is the traditional story from medieval Japan, and known as the original of the novel "Sansho Dayu (Sansho the Bailiff)" written by Ogai Mori. Set in the Mutsu Country (in northeastern Japan), in the last days of the Heian period (the 11th century). The unhappy story about a girl named Anju and her younger brother Zushio-maru, who were separated from their parents, and were forced to work as slave laborers under Sansho Dayu, a greedy and ruthless bailiff. The images like Japanese-style paintings or picture scrolls are beautiful. Directed by Taiji Yabushita and Yugo Serikawa.<br />Arabian Nights: The Adventures of Sindbad 1962 The fifth of the feature-length cartoon films by Toei Animation is an action/adventure derived from 'The Arabian Nights/Alf Laylah wa Laylah' (the collection of Indian/Persian/Middle Eastern stories written in Arabic). The story of a young man Sindbad, who makes an adventurous voyage with a boy named Ali and Princess Samir, in search of the treasure island in the south. The screenplay by Osamu Tezuka (manga artist) and Morio Kita (novelist). Directed by Taiji Yabushita and Yoshio Kuroda.<br />The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon (Wanpaku Oji no Orochi Taiji) 1963 The sixth of the feature-length cartoon films by Toei Animation. An action adventure film on the Japanese ancient myths. The story of a naughty little prince named Susanoo, who embarks on an adventurous journey to search Underworld where his dead mother Izanami lives, and in the Izumo Country, he fights off the Eight-Headed Dragon. The chief animator is Yasuji Mori. The music by contemporary composer Akira Ifukube, who is known for his music for the Japanese special-effects monster film 'Godzilla'. Directed by Yugo Serikawa.<br />Doggie March (Wan Wan Chushingura) 1963 The seventh of the feature-length cartoon films by Toei Animation is an animal animation produced as competition with Walt Disney Studios. The story of a wild dog in the woods named Rock, whose mother was killed by a tiger named Killer. Rock and his fellow stray dogs in the town try to fight against Killer and his followers of wild beasts. The title and the motif of "revenge" derive from the Japanese medieval story "Chushingura" (the English title is "The Treasury of Loyal Retainers" or "Revenge of the Forty-Seven Ronin". Also known as Kabuki play or stage drama), but the story content is universal and modern, and it has little relation to "Chushingura". The origial story and storyline by Osamu Tezuka. Directed by Daisaku Shirakawa.<br />Gulliver's Space Travel 1965 The eighth of the feature-length cartoon films by Toei Animation is a fantasy adventure set in outer space, inspired by "Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift. The story of a homeless boy named Ted and an old scientist Dr. Gulliver, who took a spaceship and embarked on an adventurous journey for the 'Blue Planet of Hope', but the 'Blue Planet' had been under the occupation of robots, and the people in the planet had escaped to the 'Purple Planet' in despair. Ted and Gulliver try to bring down the rule by the robots to help the people from the 'Blue Planet'. An artistic film with highly stylized shapes and exquisite color tones. The animation director is Hideo Furusawa. Directed by Yoshio Kuroda. Released in the US theaters in 1966.<br />Cyborg 009 1966 The first movie version of 'Cyborg 009', Shotaro Ishinomori (former name was Ishimori)'s Sci-Fi saga manga (started in 1964). A Sci-Fi action with the story of a team of 9 cyborgs, produced by Dr. Gilmore, who fight for world peace against 'Black Ghost', the organization of war industry (merchants of death). Directed by Yugo Serikawa. Produced by Toei Animation. Unlike the previous cartoon films by Toei Animation, this film was produced in the method of Japanese TV anime, called 'limited animation'. There are also the second movie version 'Cyborg 009: Monster War' (1967), the first TV anime series (1967-68, monochrome), the second TV anime series (1979-80), the third movie version 'Cyborg 009: Legend of the Super Galaxy' (1980), and the third TV anime series (2001-2002).<br />Cyborg 009: Monster War 1967 See the paragraph about the Cyborg 009 the first movie. The second movie version. The evil organization 'Black Ghost' attacked around the world, using dinosaur (plesiosaur) type giant robots, and the team of 9 cyborgs launched their quest for the Black Ghost's hideout. 009 met a girl named Helena, who was actually the 10th cyborg, 0010, and a spy sent out by Black Ghost, and she tries to kill 009. The animation produced by Toei Animation. Directed by Yugo Serikawa.<br />Jack and the Witch (Shonen Jack to Mahotsukai) 1967 An action fantasy film produced by Toei Animation. The story of a boy named Jack (a descendant of Beowulf, the hero in the myth of North Europe), who was taken away by a devil girl named Kikie and came over to the castle of the Witch Grendel. Grendel had kidnapped children and changed them into devils. Jack tries saving Kikie, who is ready to be killed by Grendel. Directed by Taiji Yabushita.<br />Horus: The Prince of the Sun (Little Norse Prince Valiant) 1968 A heroic/socialistic mob action/drama anime by the young staffs of Toei Animation at the time: directed by Isao Takahata, and scene design by Hayao Miyazaki. Based on Ainu's oral epic (Ainu is Japan's indigenous people) and Kazuo Fukazawa's puppet play. The scene is laid in northern Europe. The story of a boy named Horus, who and village people unite in fighting against the invasion by the devil Grunwald. A product of leftist ideology and labor union movement in the 1960s. Since this work, Takahata and Miyazaki kept on working as a director-animator team for a long time.<br />Fables from Hans Christian Andersen (Toei Animation version) 1968 A musical fantasy film (80 minutes) describing the Danish author and poet, Hans Christian Andersen's boyhood as a story in combination with his four fairy tales, 'Ole-Luk-Oie, The Dream God/The Sandman', 'Thumbelina', 'The Red Shoes' and 'The Little Match Girl'. The animation produced by Toei Animation. Directed by Kimio Yabuki. The animation director is Akira Daikuhara. The music by Seiichiro Uno. A TV anime series 'Andersen Stories' (aired in 1971. 52 episodes) produced by Mushi Productions has the same title ('Andersen Monogatari' in Japanese) as this film, but there is no direct relationship between them.<br />The Master Cat or Puss in Boots 1969 A feature-length action/comedy film based on the juvenile literature 'The Master Cat or Puss in Boots' (Le Maître chat ou le chat botté) by French writer Charles Perrault. The first film of the 'Toei Manga Festival'. The story of Pero, a cat with long boots, and a boy named Pierre, who have a try at getting the Princess Rosa out of The Satan, Lucifer. The highlight is the thrilling chase scene on the steeples of Lucifer's castle. Hayao Miyazaki participated as a key animator. Directed by Kimio Yabuki.<br />The Flying Ghost Ship 1969 A Sci-Fi horror action film based on the manga (graphic novel) by Shotaro Ishinomori (former name was Ishimori). The story of a boy named Hayato Arashiyama, who got involved in the fight between the mysterious ghost ship and a large corporation Kuroshio Products Company, and he fights with the ghost ship against Boa, a mysterious undersea life that controlled Kuroshio's conspiracy from behind. The highlights are the scenes drawn by Hayao Miyazaki, where the giant robot Golem destroys Tokyo. Directed by Hiroshi Ikeda. Produced by Toei Animation.<br />A Thousand and One Nights 1969 An entertaining action/adventure based on 'The Arabian Nights/Alf Laylah wa Laylah' (the collection of Indian/Persian/Middle Eastern stories written in Arabic), and an adult-oriented anime film that includes some erotic scenes. The story of a young man who had been a water seller in Baghdad, Aldin's checkered life full of love and adventure. The first theatrical, feature-length animated movie produced by manga artist Osamu Tezuka and his Mushi Production. The executive producer is Osamu Tezuka. Directed by Eiichi Yamamoto. The animation director is Sadao Miyamoto. The art direction (character design) by Takashi Yanase. The No.5 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 1969.<br />Cleopatra 1970 The second of the adult-oriented anime films, 'Animerama' (a coined word from anime and drama or cinerama) by Osamu Tezuka and his Mushi Production, following 'A Thousand and One Nights'. A historical drama on the checkered life of Cleopatra VII, the last queen of the Ptolemaic Dynasty of ancient Egypt. An amorous, comic film full of parodies/quotations from Japanese manga characters, famous paintings of all ages/countries and so on. The original story by Osamu Tezuka. Directed by Osamu Tezuka and Eiichi Yamamoto. The character design by Isao Kojima, who is known for his adult-oriented manga.<br />Thirty Thousand Miles Under the Sea 1970 A science-fiction cartoon film set in the world under the sea and the ground. The original story written by manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori (former name was Ishimori). A 12-year-old boy Isamu, whose father is an oceanographer, got involved in the war between the Underground Kingdom and the Undersea Kingdom. The Underground King tries to conquer the world on the ground by manipulating big robotic monsters called "Flame Dragons", but Isamu struggles to interrupt the Underground Kingdom's invasion with the princess of the Undersea Kingdom, named Angel. The scenes with the Flame Dragons, like special effects monster film, are impressive. Directed by Takeshi Tamiya. Produced by Toei Animation.<br />Animal Treasure Island (Doubutsu Takarajima) 1971 An entertaining action adventure film adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson's novel, 'Treasure Island'. The story of a boy named Jim, who and a girl named Kathy go on an adventurous journey in search of Treasure Island, fighting against pirates. The pirates are all anthropomorphized animal characters. Hayao Miyazaki participated (idea construction and key animation). Directed by Hiroshi Ikeda. Produced by Toei Animation.<br />Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (Ali Baba to Yonju-ppiki no Tozoku) 1971 A entertaining comedy film filled with speedy motion and action. An original story based on the episode 'Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves' from 'The Arabian Nights: Tales from a Thousand and One Nights'. A boy Al Huck, who is a descendant of the boss of the forty thieves, fights with his mouse Kajiru and 38 cats against a tyrant king, Ali Baba the 33rd. The cartoonish and freewheeling key animation by Yoichi Kotabe and young Hayao Miyazaki are worth seeing. Directed by Hiroshi Shitara. The animation director is Akira Daikuhara. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Panda Kopanda<br />(Panda! Go Panda!) 1972 A fairy-tale anime aimed at children. 'Ko-panda' means 'a kid/little panda'. The story of a commotion caused by a panda family (father and his son), who came to the house of a little girl Mimiko and lived with her. The original works, screenplay and scene design by Hayao Miyazaki. Directed by Isao Takahata. Recommended to those who like Miyazaki's 'My Neighbor Totoro'. Produced by Tokyo Movie. There is the sequel entitled 'Panda Kopanda: Rainy Circus' (1973).<br />Mazinger Z vs. Devilman 1973 The movie version that co-stars the two heroes from the TV animes based on the original by manga (graphic novel) artist Go Nagai and his Dynamic Productions: Mazinger Z and Devilman. Mazinger Z, who gained the ability to fly in the air with the jet-propelled wings called 'Jet Scrander', fights with Devilman against the allied forces between Dr. Hell's Machine Beasts and Monstrous Beasts from the Demon Race. Directed by Tomoharu Katsumata. Produced by Toei Animation.<br />Belladonna 1973 The third of the adult-oriented anime films by Mushi Production, following 'A Thousand and One Nights' and 'Cleopatra'. An avant-garde art film based on French historian, Jules Michelet's book "La Sorcière" (the title of the English version is "Satanism and Witchcraft"). Called "Anime Romanesque" in those days. Set in a farming community in medieval France. A sad story of a woman named Jeanne, who sold her body and soul to the devil for living with her beloved husband, Jean. Features the images drawn by illustrator, Kuni Fukai, and produced by an experimental method of using lots of still images and animating the illustrations. The images full of eroticism, like psychedelic wet dreams, are artistic and beautiful. Directed by Eiichi Yamamoto. The art by Kuni Fukai. The animation director is Gisaburo Sugii.<br />Mazinger Z vs. Grand General of Darkness 1974 The movie version that depicted an episode in the interval between the 2 TV series, Mazinger Z and the sequel, Great Mazinger: The Grand General of Darkness from the Mycenae Empire and his 7 Combat Beasts corps attack the cities around the world. In Tokyo, Mazinger Z is being attacked by the strong corps and gets mortally wounded, but the new hero Great Mazinger appears and with Mazinger Z beats back the Combat Beasts corps. Noted as the most memorable one in all of the 'Mazinger' movies. Directed by Nobutaka Nishizawa. Produced by Toei Animation.<br />Great Mazinger vs. Getter Robo 1975 A short film (30 minutes) released as one of the programs of 'Toei Manga Festival'. The movie version that co-stars the two giant robot heroes from the TV animes based on the original by manga (graphic novel) artist Go Nagai and his Dynamic Productions: Great Mazinger and Getter Robo. Great Mazinger from the Fortified Research Institute for Science and Getter Robo from the Saotome Research Institute cooperate with each other and fight against an unidentified flying saucer from space and a space monster GilGilGan. The original story by Go Nagai, Ken Ishikawa and Dynamic Productions. Directed by Masayuki Akehi. Produced by Toei Animation.<br />Uchu Enban Daisenso (Space Saucer Great War) 1975 A short film (30 minutes) released as one of the programs of 'Toei Manga Festival'. A giant robot anime using UFO (flying saucer) as a material. The story of the prince Duke Fleed, whose home, the planet Fleed was destroyed by the invading force led by Yarban the Great, and he escaped to the Earth and lived there as an Earthian Daisuke Umon. But the princess Terronna, who is Yarban's daughter and ex-lover of Duke Fleed, came to the Earth with the invading force, following Duke Fleed. Duke Fleed operates a UFO-type robot 'Gattaiger' and fights against the invading force. It is well-known that this film was the prototype of the later TV anime series 'Ufo Robo Grendizer'. The original works by Go Nagai and Dynamic Productions. Directed by Yugo Serikawa. Produced by Toei Animation.<br />Puss in Boots: Around the World in 80 Days 1976 The third of Toei Animation's 'Puss in Boots' series, following 'The Master Cat or Puss in Boots' (1969) and 'The Three Musketeers in Boots' (1972). An entertaining action/comedy film based on Jules Verne's 'Around the World in Eighty Days'. Pero (cat) made a bet with Lord Gourmont (pig), a big shot in the city, and he gambled that he could go around the world in 80 days. Pero challenges the round-the-world travel in 80 days with his fellows, Carter (river horse), Chibi (baby mouse) and Chibi's father, fighting against the interference by a hit team of three cats and Dr. Galigari (wolf), who was sent by Gourmont. Directed by Hiroshi Shitara.<br />Space Battleship Yamato 1977 See the paragraph about the Space Battleship Yamato TV series. The digest movie version edited from the first TV series. In Japan it scored a big hit at the theaters, and caused 'Yamato' boom (the first anime boom in Japan). The original works by Leiji Matsumoto. Supervised by Yoshinobu Nishizaki. Directed by Toshio Masuda. Produced by Office Academy.<br />Tenguri, the Boy of the Plains 1977 A short film (22 minutes) produced as a public relations film for Snow Brand Milk Products. Tenguri is a boy living in a rairie in Central Asia, who grew up with a calf named TaruTaru like brothers. One day, the village people tried to kill and eat TaruTaru for lack of food, but Tenguri made TaruTaru get way. Years later, the village people and Tenguri go on safari looking for cattle led by a bull with 'golden horns', and Tenguri meets up again with TaruTaru. A high-quality work by eminent creators, the original story by Osamu Tezuka, direction and animation direction by Yasuo Otsuka (animation director of "Horus: The Prince of the Sun", "Lupin III" the first TV series, "Panda Kopanda", "Samurai Giants", "Future Boy Conan" and "Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro"), the key animation by Yoichi Kotabe (character designer and animation director of "Heidi, Girl of the Alps" and "Haha o Tazunete Sanzenri"), Yoshio Kabashima (animation director of "Shin Obake no Q-Taro", "Jungle Kurobee", "Ace wo Nerae!" the first TV series and "The Adventures of Gamba"), Hayao Miyazaki, Yoshifumi Kondo (director of "Whisper of the Heart") and others. It had been a rare film for a long time, because it was not on general release in theaters, but released on DVD in 2007. The animation produced by Shin'ei Doga.<br />Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato: In the Name of Love 1978 See the paragraph about the Space Battleship Yamato TV series. The first original movie version of Yamato series and the sequel to the story of the TV series. In 2201 AD, ex-Yamato crew go aboard Yamato again and carry out suicidal attacks on the White Comet Empire Gatlantis trying to destroy planets and to conquer the universe. There was criticism for its romanticism as if to glorify death in war or suicide attack, but this movie was a big hit in Japan (the attendance was four million). The original works by Leiji Matsumoto. The original conception by Yoshinobu Nishizaki, Leiji Matsumoto and Toshio Masuda. The planning, production and supervision by Yoshinobu Nishizaki. Directed by Toshio Masuda and Leiji Matsumoto. Produced by Office Academy. Produced as the last program of the series, but after this many sequels had been produced: the second TV series 'Space Battleship Yamato 2' (1978-79), the TV special 'Space Battleship Yamato: The New Voyage' (1979), the movie 'Be Forever Yamato' (1980), the third TV series 'Space Battleship Yamato III' (1980-81), and the movie 'Space Battleship Yamato: The Final Battle' (1983).<br />Gatchaman the Movie 1978 See the paragraph about the 'Gatchaman' TV series. The movie version (1 hour and 50 minutes) produced as a redigest of the TV series (aired in 1972-1974). The Science Ninja Team battles against Gallactor's 'V2 Program' (the leader of Gallactor, Berg Katse threatens the human race with a Monster Bird Missile which can bring down the Van Allen radiation belt surrounding the Earth) and 'Black Hole Program' (Generalissimo X of Gallactor tries to wipe out the Earth by detonating a molecule bomb within the Earth). The climaxes are the scenes of brief reunion between Ken and his father, and the last sequence in which Joe dies. The original story by Tatsuo Yoshida. The general supervision by Kihachi Okamoto. Directed by Hisayuki Toriumi. The music by Koichi Sugiyama. The animation produced by Tstsunoko Production. Screened with 4 channel stereophonic system called 'Phoenix Sound'.<br />Lupin III: The Mystery of Mamo 1978 See the paragraph about the Lupin III first TV series. The first movie version released when the second TV series was on the air. A slapstick action/comedy depicting a battle between Lupin III and Mamo, a mystery man who developed cloning technology at the very dawn of time, and gained enormous wealth and eternal life. The atmosphere is like the first half of the first TV series, and much closer to the image of the original manga (graphic novel) version by Monkey Punch, and more adult-oriented than other movie versions. The original story by Monkey Punch. Directed by Soji Yoshikawa. Supervised by Yasuo Otsuka. Produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha.<br />Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro 1979 See the paragraph about the Lupin III first TV series. The second movie version. The scene is laid in Principality of Cagliostro, an European small country that makes fake bills. The story of Lupin III's attempts to protect the Princess Clarisse from unwilling marriage with Count Cagliostro. The screenplay and direction by Hayao Miyazaki. The first film by the director Miyazaki. A very high quality finished work as an entertaining action/adventure film. A must-see masterpiece. Produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha.<br />Galaxy Express 999 1979 See the paragraph about the Galaxy Express 999 TV series. The first movie version based on the storyline of the TV series. The express stops are: Megalopolis Central Station (on the Earth), Titan (the Saturn's satellite), Pluto, Trader's Fork (on the planet Heavy Melder), and Maetel, the mechanized mother planet. Tetsuro avenged his mother's death on Count Mecha, and challenges Promethium, the queen of the Machine Empire. Leiji Matsumoto's other main characters, Emeraldas and Captain Herlock appear as supporting players. Directed by Taro Rin. Produced by Toei Animation. The No.1 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 1979. There is the sequel second movie version too.<br />Aim for the Ace!<br />(Ace wo Nerae!) 1979 See the paragraph about the 'Aim for the Ace!' first TV series. The completely renewed movie version based on the first part of the original manga (graphic novel) by Sumika Yamamoto. More faithful to the original manga version than the first TV series. Directed by Osamu Dezaki. Produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha.<br />Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Dinosaur 1980 Based on Fujio F. Fujiko's popular Sci-Fi comedy manga. Doraemon is a cat-like robot, who came from the future world to help a boy named Nobita Nobi, a grade schooler and born loser. The original manga version (1969-1996) is one of nationally-popular manga works in Japan, and had gained popularity in Asian countries too. The first movie. The story of Nobita's attempts to protect a Cretaceous dinosaur named Peesuke (he raised by himself) from a dinosaur hunter came from the future. Directed by Hiroshi Fukutomi. Produced by Shin'ei Doga. There are the first TV series (1973), second TV series (1979-) and lots of movie versions too.<br />Phoenix 2772: Love's Cosmo Zone 1980 The one and only original theatrical anime movie based on the worldview of Osamu Tezuka's manga, 'Phoenix/Hi no Tori' (serialized in 1967-88). The manga version is a saga drama dealing with the theme of 'human life and death', and Tezuka's lifework that mainly consists of 12 long stories from the ancient times to the distant future. This movie version '2772' has the original story independent from the manga version. A Sci-Fi fantasy set in extremely rationalized and controlled future society. A young man named Godot, who was born as a test-tube baby and raised as a space hunter by a nursery robot Olga, takes the spaceship 'Space Shark' and goes on a journey with Olga to outer space in search of space life 2772, so-called the 'Phoenix'. The original works and supervising direction by Osamu Tezuka. The screenplay by Osamu Tezuka and Taku Sugiyama. Directed by Taku Sugiyama. Produced by Tezuka Production. There are other 'Phoenix' film versions: the live-action movie 'Phoenix' (partly combined with anime, 1978), the anime movie 'Phoenix: Karma Chapter' (1986), and 2 OAVs, 'Phoenix: Yamato Chapter' (1987) and 'Phoenix: Space Chapter' (1987).<br />Toward the Terra 1980 A feature-length animated movie (112 minutes) based on Keiko Takemiya's Sci-Fi manga 'Terra he.../Toward the Terra' (serialized in 'Monthly Manga Shonen' in 1977-1980). The original manga is a serious political drama set in the distant space-age future depicting a struggle between the human race and a new human race of psionics called 'Mu'. In 500 S.D. (Superior Dominance), people have grown up in colonial planets, being controlled by the mother computer, from the cradle to the grave, and only chosen people are allowed to live on Earth (Terra). The Mu have been oppressed as disparate elements by humans, but the Mu leader Jomy Marquis Shin leads the Mu race and tries to return to their mother planet Terra. Meanwhile, a young man from the enforcement agency 'Members Elite', Keith Anyan becomes the Head of the Terra and counters the Mu. This movie version has a different ending from the original manga. The direction in the live-action style using lots of long takes is worth seeing. Directed by Hideo Onchi (live-action director). The character designer and animation director is Masami Suda. Produced by Toei Animation. There is also the TV anime series (produced Minamimachi Bugyosho and Tokyo Kids. 2007).<br />Makoto-chan 1980 The only animated film (85 minutes) based on the popular comedy manga 'Makoto-chan' (serialized in 'Weekly Shonen Sunday' since 1976 until 1981) by Kazuo Umezu, who is known as the master of the genre in horror manga. The original manga is a nonsense, surreal and scatologic comedy/gag manga depicting the daily life of a boy at a kindergarten, Makoto Sawada with his family and friends. This movie consists of five episodes from the original manga: 1. A Little Lover, 2. A Present of Mother's Day, 3. Sparrow's Egg, 4. Lunch of Love, 5. Good-Child Award. The original title is "Energisch Gag Makoto-chan". The character design and animation direction by Osamu Kobayashi. Directed by Tsutomu Shibayama. Produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha. The original author Kazuo Umezu has a talent for music, and the opening song "Papa and Mama Rock" and the ending song "Samba de Makoto-chan" are written, composed and sung by Kazuo Umezu himself. Screened with co-feature: 'Tonda Couple/Dreamy Fifteen', a live action film directed by Shinji Somai.<br />Ashita no Joe<br />(Tomorrow's Joe) 1980 A sports anime. The story of Joe Yabuki, a homeless orphan boy, who met his archrival, a boxer Toru Rikiishi in a youth prison and became a boxer to fight against Rikiishi. Based on the manga (1968-73) by Asao Takamori (Ikki Kajiwara) and Tetsuya Chiba. The first movie edited from the first TV series (1970-71). Directed by Yoichiro Fukuda. The original manga version is a monumental masterpiece noted as the greatest work of boxing/sports manga. There are the second TV series and the second movie version too.<br />Cyborg 009: Legend of the Super Galaxy 1980 See the paragraph about the Cyborg 009 the first movie. The third movie version released after the second TV series was aired. A Sci-Fi action film set in space. The team of 9 cyborg warriors take a spaceship called "Ismael" and fight against Zoa, the king of the Planet Dagas, who plots to conquer the universe by using the super energy "Vortex", which is something like the mother source of the universe. The original works and general supervision by Shotaro Ishinomori. Directed by Masayuki Akehi. Produced by Toei.<br />Mobile Suit Gundam: The Movie 1981 See the paragraph about the Mobile Suit Gundam TV series. The first of the Gundam movie trilogy, and the re-edited version from the first 13 episodes of the TV series with some new shots and scenes added. The supervising director is Yoshiyuki Tomino. Produced by Sunrise.<br />Mobile Suit Gundam II:<br />Soldiers of Sorrow 1981 See the paragraph about the Mobile Suit Gundam TV series. The second of the Gundam movie trilogy. Re-edited/re-constructed version of the TV series, from the 16th episode to the 31st one, with some new shots and scenes added. The supervising director is Yoshiyuki Tomino. Produced by Sunrise.<br />Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Space Story 1981 See the paragraph about the Doraemon first movie. The second movie based on Fujio F. Fujiko's manga (graphic novel). A Sci-Fi action/adventure in the Western style. The scene is laid in the Planet Koyakoya, where the gravity is lighter than the Earth's. The story of Nobita's heroic activity in battle against the Galtite Mining Industry, which plots to drive the pioneering settlers out of the planet and to monopolize the Galtite ore, a substance that generates antigravity energy. This work is noted as a masterpiece of Doraemon movie versions, among many others. The original works and screenplay by Fujio F. Fujiko. Directed by Hideo Nishimaki. Produced by Shin'ei Doga.<br />Adieu Galaxy Express 999 1981 See the paragraphs about the Galaxy Express 999 TV series and the first movie version. The second movie version based on the manga by Leiji Matsumoto. The sequel to the first movie. Tetsuro, who had been fighting against the Mechanized Men as a partisan soldier on the Earth, gets on the 999 again and starts for the terminal station, the planet Great Andromeda. Directed by Taro Rin. Produced by Toei Animation.<br />Jarinko Chie the Movie (Chie the Brat) 1981 The animated feature film based on Etsumi Haruki's popular manga (graphic novel) 'Jarinko Chie (Chie the Brat)' (serialized in weekly 'Manga Action' since 1978 until 1997). A comedy full of human touches, set in downtown Osaka (the big city in Kansai region, the middle west of Japan). The leading character, Chie Takemoto is an eleven-year-old girl (in the fifth grade). She manages her family business, a bar-and-grill serving broiled pig innards, on behalf of her father Tetsu Takemoto, who does nothing but gambling and brawling. The original story by Etsumi Haruki. Directed by Isao Takahata. The character design by Yoichi Kotabe. The animation directors are Yoichi Kotabe and Yasuo Otsuka. The animation produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha. The TV anime series (1981-1983, 65 episodes) was aired after this movie version. In Kansai region, the TV series was re-aired many times and became a popular show. There is also the sequel second TV series (1991-1992, 39 episodes).<br />Unico 1981 A feature-length, child-oriented fantasy adventure film based on Osamu Tezuka's manga (graphic novel) 'Unico', which was serialized in 'Lyrica', a girl's magazine published by Sanrio. The storyline is an adaptation of the chapters 3 ('A Cat on a Broomstick') and 8 ('Lonely Unico') of the original manga. A little unicorn with a white horn, Unico met a kitten Chao, who wanted to be a human girl. Unico transformed Chao into a girl by his magical power, but she was kidnapped by Baron Ghost, who was the incarnation of a giant Satan. Unico and his friend Akuma-kun (a little devil) try to fight against Satan and help her out. The original story by Osamu Tezuka. Directed by Toshio Hirata. Produced by Sanrio (cooperated by Madhouse). There are other 'Unico' film versions: a short pilot film 'Unico' (produced in 1979 and released as video under the title of 'Unico: Black Cloud and White Feather') and the second movie 'Unico: To the Magic Island' (1983).<br />The Door into Summer 1981 A medium long anime movie (59 minutes) based on the short story "The Door into Summer" (published in the girls' manga magazine 'Hana to Yume' in 1975) by Keiko Takemiya. An aesthetic film describing adolescent boys' delicate feelings set in France in the early 20 century. A story of a four boy team in a gymnasium, who calls themselves 'Rationalist Party'. The leader of the team, Marion takes a critical attitude toward adults and has no fear of senior students. A mayor's daughter and a beatiful girl Ledania is secretly in love with him, but he is tempted by an older beautiful woman Sarah and spends the night together with her. A cutting-edge film in those days, for it had some touchy subjects of sexual awakening and homosexuality, and exquisite drawings close to the original manga's touch. Directed by Mori Masaki. The animation produced by Madhouse and Toei Animation. Screened in the off-theater system (in non-theater locations such as halls and public cultural facilities) with "Akuma to Himegimi/The Devil and the Princess" based on the manga by Akimi Yoshida.<br />Mobile Suit Gundam III:<br />Encounters in Space 1982 See the paragraph about the Mobile Suit Gundam TV series. The third of the Gundam movie trilogy. Re-edited version of the episodes 32 to 43 (the last) of the TV series. About 70% of the animation is new. The supervising director is Yoshiyuki Tomino. Produced by Sunrise.<br />The Ideon: A Contact/Be Invoked 1982 See the paragraph about the Ideon TV series. This movie version consists of two parts: The first part 'A Contact' is a digest version summarizing the TV series, and the second 'Be Invoked' is a completely new film and the ending part that corresponds to the last four (40-43) episodes not aired on TV. 'Be Invoked' is a grand-scale Sci-Fi film depicting the drama of mankind's extinction and transmigration set in outer space, like Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey'. The supervising director is Yoshiyuki Tomino. Produced by Sunrise.<br />Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Haunts of Evil 1982 See the paragraph about the Doraemon first movie. The third movie is an action adventure set in Africa. Nobita, Doraemon, Shizuka, Suneo and Gian explore the secret of a big stone god in a jungle of Congo Basin, central Africa, and find a kingdom of evolved dogs. The original story and screenplay by Fujio F. Fujiko. Directed by Hideo Nishimaki. Produced by Shin'ei Doga.<br />Arcadia of My Youth (My Youth in Arcadia) 1982 A Sci-Fi adventure which depicted the younger days of Herlock, the hero of the TV anime series 'Space Pirate Captain Herlock' (aired in 1978-79) based on Leiji Matsumoto's manga (graphic novel). The story of young Herlock, who had fought agaisnt the invasion by aliens Illumidus, as the captain of the space battleship Death Shadow, which belonged to the Solar System Federation, but he lost the battle, and the Earth was conquered by Illumidus. After losing his beloved woman Maya in the fight against Illumidus' occupation forces, Herlock left the Earth and took off for space, with his lifelong friend Tochiro and the space battleship 'Arcadia', for his belief, 'to live freely'. The original story by Leiji Matsumoto. Directed by Tomoharu Katsumata. Produced by Toei. The TV series 'Arcadia of My Youth: Endless Orbit SSX' (aired in 1982-83) is the sequel of this film.<br />Queen Millennia the Movie 1982 The movie version released just before the end of the TV anime series 'Queen Millennia' (aired in 1981-1982, 42 episodes), based on the original story by manga artist Leiji Matsumoto. A Sci-Fi fantasy story on 'Queen Millennia', who comes to the Earth from the planet Lar Metal once a millennium. In the year 1999, the Queen Millennia had lived in the Earth as a woman named Yayoi Yukino, working as a teacher and observatory officer. She fights with observatory's professor Amamori and a boy named Hajime Amamori (professor Amamori's nephew and her student) against the attack by Lar Metalians, who try to emigrate to the Earth. The original story by Leiji Matsumoto. Directed by Masayuki Akehi. Produced by Toei Animation.<br />Goshu the Cellist 1982 A fantasy film based on the fairy story written by Kenji Miyazawa. Self-produced by Oh-Produntion, the well-established animation company. Set in a Japanese old-time country town surrounded by nature. The story of a young cellist named Goshu, who meets strange talking animals (cat, cuckoo, Japanese raccoon dog and mice). The background music is Beethoven's Symphony No.6 'Pastoral'. The screenplay and direction by Isao Takahata. The character designs and key animations by Shunji Saida for himself.<br />Crusher Joe 1983 A Sci-Fi action movie based on the space-opera novel by Haruka Takachiho. The direction, character design and drawing direction by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko (an animator/manga artist who is known as the character designer and animation director of the Gundam first TV series). The story of a space handyman, Crusher Joe and his team's fights against space pirate Murphy. Kei and Yuri from 'Dirty Pair' (the original characters by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko) appear as guests. Produced by Sunrise. There are also the 2 OAVs released in 1989.<br />Harmagedon 1983 A Sci-Fi anime based on the original works by Kazumasa Hirai (novel) and Shotaro Ishinomori (manga). The story of a Japanese high school boy with psi power, Joe Azuma, and other psionic fighters in the world, who unite in fighting against 'Genma', an invader from outer space, to save the Earth. The characters designed by Katsuhiro Otomo are cool. Directed by Taro Rin. The music directed by Keith Emerson. The animation production by Madhouse.<br />Urusei Yatsura: Only You 1983 See the paragraph about the Urusei Yatsura TV series. The first movie directed by Mamoru Oshii, who had been the chief director of the TV series. A slapstick comedy/love romance that is extension of the TV series. The story of Elle, the queen of the Planet Elle, who pressed to Ataru Moroboshi to get married with her, and took him away to her planet. She tried going ahead with the marriage, but Lum begins an operation to recapture Ataru. Produced by Kitty Film (cooperated by Studio Pierrot). Screened with co-feature: 'The Big Catch; Shonben Rider', a live action film directed by Shinji Somai.<br />Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Monstrous Underwater Castle 1983 See the paragraph about the Doraemon first movie. The fourth movie is an action adventure set in the depths of the sea. Nobita, Doraemon, Shizuka, Suneo and Gian rode a submergible buggy and went camping in the mountains at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. They found an undersea people's state, the Mu Federation in the Mariana Trench, and met Mu's child soldier, El. Then, submarine volcanic activity reactivated Atlantis' automatic reprisal system in the Bermuda Triangle, which was a legacy of extinct Atlanteans, and it was going to fire a nuclear missile. Nobita, his friends and El go to the Bermuda Triangle to stop the missile launch. The original story and screenplay by Fujio F. Fujiko. Directed by Tsutomu Shibayama. Produced by Shin'ei Doga.<br />Golgo 13: The Professional 1983 'Golgo 13' is Takao Saito's graphic novel serialized in the magazine 'Big Comic' since 1968 for long periods. The leading character Golgo 13 (alias: Duke Togo) is a professional assassin and ruthless sniper who never fails to shoot down any target. The anime movie version is a hard-boiled action with the story based on the 108th episode of the original. The oil tycoon, Leonard Dawson fights a pursuit battle with Golgo 13, who killed Dawson's son Robert, mobilizing FBI, CIA and Pentagon. Directed by Osamu Dezaki. The chief animator is Akio Sugino. The animation production by Tokyo Movie Shinsha. The title of the US release version is 'The Professional: Golgo 13'. There is also the OAV (original animation video) 'Golgo 13: Queen Bee' (1998) by the duo of Dezaki and Sugino.<br />Unico: To the Magic Island 1983 See the paragraph about 'Unico' the first movie. The second movie is a fantasy adventure in a modern-horror style. Based on the manga 'Unico and the Kingdom of the Sun' newly-drawn for this film. The story describes the fight between Unico and the sorcerer Kukurukku, who changes humans into dolls called 'living puppets' and builds his castle by using them for the parts. The original story by Osamu Tezuka. The screenplay and direction by Moribi Murano. Produced by Sanrio. Cooperated by Madhouse.<br />Patalliro! Stardust Program 1983 See the paragraph about the 'Patalliro!' TV series. The movie version (48 minutes) released after the TV series ended. Based on the original manga's long episode 'Stardust' (published in the book vol. 5). A comical spy action/gag anime set in outer space. Patalliro, Bancolin, Maraich and Plasma X (a super robot created by Patalliro) fight against 'Tarantella', an international crime organization which steals diamonds from around the world and tries to rule the world. The original story by Mineo Maya. Directed by Nobutaka Nishizawa. The animation produced by Toei Animation. The opening theme song 'Run Away Rose Boys!' is sung by the original manga author Mineo Maya himself.<br />Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind 1984 An ecological Sci-Fi film. The original works, screenplay and direction by Hayao Miyazaki. Based on the full-length manga (graphic novel) by Miyazaki himself. Set in a distant future world when industrial civilization has collapsed after the apocalyptic war called the 'Seven Days of Fire'. The large parts of the earth have been covered by the 'Sea of Corruption', the forests with miasma (poison gas) and 'Ohmu' (giant mutated insects). Nausicaa, who is the princess of a small kingdom 'Valley of Wind', gets involved in the war against Torumekia, the military kingdom plotting to revive the Giant God Soldiers (weapons that destroyed the world in the 'Seven Days of Fire'), and she seeks to follow a path of coexistence with ecosystem. The storyline is simpler than the original manga, but a very high quality finished work as a motion picture. Produced by Top Craft (later Studio Ghibli).<br />Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer 1984 See the paragraph about the Urusei Yatsura TV series. The second movie version is a controversial piece which is both a self-parody of the TV series as 'an endlessly repeating slapstick comedy' and a meta-fictional Sci-Fi film with the theme of 'inner space'. The story of Ataru Moroboshi and other main characters, who are confined in a strange world of inner space like a dream, where one and the same day-the day before the school festival in Tomobiki High School-is being repeated over and over. The screenplay and direction by Mamoru Oshii. The greatest work in all of the Urusei Yatsura series, and must-see masterpiece. Produced by Kitty Film. Cooperated by Studio Pierrot.<br />Macross: Do You Remember Love? 1984 See the paragraph about the Macross TV series. The completely renewed movie version based on the main storyline of the TV series. The drawings and animations are much more elaborate and splendid than the TV series. In terms of images, the highest quality anime film of the time. Directed by Noboru Ishiguro and Shoji Kawamori. Produced by Big West, Tatsunoko Production and others.<br />Wata no Kuni Hoshi (The Star of Cottonland) 1984 The anime film version based on the girls' manga 'Wata no Kuni Hoshi' by Yumiko Oshima (serialized in monthly 'LaLa' since 1978). The original manga version is a fantasy masterpiece with a literary flavor, which depicted the worlds of humans and cats from the viewpoint of an anthropomorphized kitten. The storyline of the film is mainly based on the episode one ('Watanokunihoshi') and three ('Silkmoon Petitroad') of the original: A young man going to a prep school, Tokio Suwano brought home an abandoned female kitten, and he named her 'Chibineko'. Chibineko believed she could be a human being someday, but a beautiful, silver-colored male cat Raphael said to her "cats can't be humans", and talked to her about the legendary 'Cottonland'. The planning and production by Mushi Production. The screenplay by Masaki Tsuji and Yumiko Oshima. Directed by Shin'ichi Tsuji.<br />Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Great Adventure into the Underworld 1984 See the paragraph about the Doraemon first movie. The fifth movie version is a fantasy adventure set in another world (a parallel world) where magic has evolved. Dr. Mangetsu preaches the 'Devildom Contiguity Theory' that says the 'Planet Devildom' approaches the Earth and the devils plot to invade the Earth. The devils abduct him and change his daughter Miyako into the form of a cat. Nobita, Doraemon, Shizuka, Suneo and Gian with Miyako barge into the devildom and fight against the Great Satan Demaon to save the Earth. The original story and screenplay by Fujio F. Fujiko. Directed by Tsutomu Shibayama. Produced by Shin'ei Doga.<br />Jumping 1984 The most famous and ambitious work of experimental short anime flims produced by the manga artist Osamu Tezuka in his later years (the 1980s). The world scenes, such as towns, forests, sea and battlefields, are seen from a first person point of view that keeps on jumping high, like a bouncing ball. 6 minutes and 20 seconds. One-shot shooting all through the film. Tezuka was inspired by Hungarian animator, Ferenc Rofusz's short film "The Fly" (1980) and produced this film. The direction and screenplay by Osamu Tezuka. The drawing by Junji Kobayashi. Produced by Tezuka Productions. Won the Grand Prix at 1984 Zagreb international animation festival.<br />Gamba the Movie 1984 See the paragraph about the 'Gamba no Bouken/The Adventures of Gamba' TV series. A digest version (93 minutes) that summarizes the TV series' main episodes. The original movie title is 'Boukenshatachi: Gamba to Nana-hiki no Nakama (The Adventurers: Gamba and Seven Friends)'. Re-edited and directed by the TV series' director Osamu Dezaki himself. Mainly consists of the episodes which describe Gamba's encounter with friends and fight against a white weasel Noroi. If you have time, I recommend you watch all the episodes of the TV series, because the TV series is one of the greatest films in Japan's anime history. The original story by Atsuo Saito. The animation director is Yoshio Kabashima. The scenes design and layout by Tsutomu Shibayama. The art director is Shichiro Kobayashi. Produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha.<br />The Dagger of Kamui 1985 A ninja action/adventure film based on the novel by Sci-Fi writer Tetsu Yano. Set in Japan (last days of the Tokugawa Shogunate of the Edo Period) and the US (the pioneer days of the American West) in the middle of the 19th century. The story of a half-Ainu half-Japanese young man named Jiro (Ainu is Japan's indigenous people), who became a ninja and takes an adventurous journey with the 'Dagger of Kamui' (a relic of his father), from Japan to the US through Kamchatka peninsula and ice-bound seas, to explore the mysteries of the pirate Captain Kidd's treasures. 'Kamui' is Ainu's word for something like 'Gods'. Directed by Taro Rin. The animation production by Project Team Argos and Madhouse.<br />Night on the Galactic Railroad<br />(Nokto de la Galaksia Fervojo) 1985 A fantasy film based on Hiroshi Masumura's manga (graphic novel) version of the fairy story written by Kenji Miyazawa. The main characters are anthropomorphized cats. The story of a boy named Giovanni ans his best friend Campanella, who go on a strange trip into the Milky Way on the galactic railroad train. Directed by Gisaburo Sugii. Music by Haruomi Hosono. The animation production by Group Tac. 'Nokto de la Galaksia Fervojo' is the Esperanto title.<br />Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Little Star Wars 1985 See the paragraph about the Doraemon first movie. The sixth movie version is a Sci-Fi action adventure in the motif of "A Voyage To Lilliput" from "Gulliver's Travels" written by Jonathan Swift. One day Nobita meets a lilliputian boy Papi, who is the president of small-sized aliens' planet, Pirika. In Pirika, General Gilmore had launched a coup d'etat and Papi had escaped from the planet. Gilmore comes to the Earth and captures Papi to kill him. Nobita and his friends (Doraemon, Shizuka, Suneo and Gian) make themselves smaller like lilliputians and goes to Pirika to save Papi, riding on radio-controlled tanks. The original story and screenplay by Fujio F. Fujiko. Directed by Tsutomu Shibayama. Produced by Shin'ei Doga.<br />Urusei Yatsura 3: Remember My Love 1985 See the paragraph about the Urusei Yatsura TV series. The third movie version directed by Kazuo Yamazaki, who became the chief director of the TV series, taking over from Mamoru Oshii. A fantasy drama and a straightforward love story based on the original worldview of the manga version and TV series. Featuring all the main characters. Being cursed by a sorcerer, Lum and Ataru Moroboshi were separated by the fault line in time and space. Ataru changed into a pink hippopotamus, and Lum disappeared after a mysterious boy named Ruu, who changed Ataru into a hippopotamus. And then, Ataru reverted to his original appearance, and became used to the daily life without Lum, but one day he realizes that he needs Lum at heart. Produced by Kitty Film. Cooperated by Studio DEEN.<br />Broken Down Film 1985 One of experimental short anime flims produced by the manga artist Osamu Tezuka in his later years (the 1980s). A comical parody of old black-and-white silent animated films. A story of a cowboy who tries to defeat a villain and help out a beautiful girl. He also struggles with the film itself on which he appears, the scratches (like rain) and dust on the film and disturbed frames. 5 minutes and 37 seconds. Black and white (partly color). Screened in the 1st Hiroshima International Animation Film Festival. The original story, composition and direction by Osamu Tezuka. Produced by Tezuka Productions.<br />Laputa: The Castle in the Sky 1986 A delightful fantasy action adventure film on 'Laputa', the floating island in the sky, from Jonathan Swift's novel, "Gulliver's Travels". The story of a boy, Pazu (an apprentice mechanic) and a girl, Sheeta, who embarks on an adventurous journey for exploring the legend of 'Laputa' and the mystery of the 'Flying Stone'. The first of the feature-length anime movies produced by Studio Ghibli. The original works, screenplay and direction by Hayao Miyazaki.<br />Dragon Ball the Movie: Curse of the Blood Rubies (The Legend of Shen Long) 1986 See the paragraph about the 'Dragon Ball' TV series. The first movie version (50 minutes) is an original story that tells the meeting of Son Goku, Bulma, Oolong, Yamucha and Master Muten, and the beginning of Goku's adventure, which is different from the manga version and TV series. In the Kingdom of Gurumes, people suffer under the misrule of the King Gurumes, who is looking for the world's greatest delicacy. Goku and his party fight against the Gurumes' military forces, scrambling for dragon balls. Directed by Daisuke Nishio. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Platoon of Iron Men 1986 See the paragraph about the Doraemon first movie. The seventh movie version is a Sci-Fi action/drama depicting the fight against robotic corps from another planet. One day, Nobita met a mystery girl named Rilulu. She was actually a robot from the Planet Mechatopia, in which highly-advanced robots are living, and she tried to establish a front-line base for conquering the earth. Nobita and his friends get Mechatopia's robotic corps into the 'Specular World' (world on the other side of the mirror) and fight a desperate battle againt them. The original story and screenplay by Fujio F. Fujiko. Directed by Tsutomu Shibayama. Produced by Shin'ei Doga.<br />They Were Eleven 1986 A Sci-Fi suspense set in a closed situation inside a spaceship. Based on Moto Hagio's short manga (published in 1975). The story of a young man named Tadatos Lane (Tada), who took the entrance exam for 'Cosmo Academy', the most prestigious university in space. In the final test, test-takers were made to live together in groups of ten each in a derelict spaceship during 53 days, but for some reason, there were 11 test-takers in the spaceship Tada boarded. Produced by Kitty Film. Directed by Tetsu Dezaki and Tsuneo Tominaga.<br />Project A-ko 1986 A Sci-Fi slapstick action/comedy by two animators who had participated in working on the Urusei Yatsura TV anime series: Katsuhiko Nishijima and Yuji Moriyama. Directed by Katsuhiko Nishijima. The character designer and chief animator is Yuji Moriyama. The leading character, Eiko Magami (A-ko) is a high school girl with superhuman strength. She and her friend Shiiko Kotobuki (C-ko) transfer to the Graviton School. There A-ko combats against her childhood friend Biiko Daitokuji (B-ko) over C-ko, and they get involved in the battle between alien's spaceship and defense forces. The animation production by A.P.P.P. There are the sequels too.<br />Windaria 1986 A fantasy film depicting the tragic love of the two couples involved in the war between the two powers. The story of a youngman named Izu and his young wife Marlin, who had lived in the village of Saki, where a big tree called 'Windaria' stood. They had worked as vegetable vendors and lived peacefully, but when the war started between the two kingdoms, Isa and Paro, Izu went to Paro and joined the war, leaving Marlin. Meanwhile, princess of Isa, Ahanas and prince of Paro, Jill had loved each other, but their destiny was to meet again in the battlefield and fight each other. The storyline is based on the one episode 'Asaji ga Yodo/The House of Wild Gramineons' from 'Ugetsu Monogatari/Tales of Ugetsu' by Akinari Ueda (the Japanese ghost stories of the 18th century). The original story and screenplay by Keisuke Fujikawa. The character design and animation supervised by Mutsumi Inomata. Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama. The animation produced by Kaname Production. There is the novelized version, 'Windaria: Legend of Fabulous Battle' by Keisuke Fujikawa.<br />Arion 1986 A fantasy/romance film on Greek myths. Directed by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, the animator/manga artist who is known as the character designer and animation director of the Gundam first TV series. Based on the manga/graphic novel (serialized in 1980-85) by Yasuhiko himself. Set in ancient Greece which had been ruled by the god family Titans. A coming-of-age story of a boy named Arion, who was born between Titans and humans. The original works, direction, character design and animation direction by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko. The animation produced by Nippon Sunrise. Recommended to those who like the original manga or Yasuhiko's characters.<br />Royal Space Force: Wings of Honneamise 1987 A Sci-Fi film depicting the first manned space flight in another world, the Kingdom of Honneamise. The story of Shirotsugh Lhardatto, a young officer in the 'Royal Space Force', who meets a devout girl named Leiqunni Nondelaiko, and volunteers for being the pilot of the experimental manned spacecraft. The highlights are the detailed settings and realistic description of another world. The first production by GAINAX (the production company of Gunbuster, Nadia and Evangelion). The original concept, screenplay and direction by Hiroyuki Yamaga. The musical director is Ryuichi Sakamoto.<br />Dirty Pair the Movie (Project Eden) 1987 See the paragraph about the 'DirtyPair' TV series. The movie version released after the TV series (1985) and the OAV 'Dirty Pair: Affair of Nolandia (Mystery of Norlandia)' (1986). A Sci-Fi action entertainment featuring the girl duo, Kei and Yuri, who work in the WWWA (Worlds Welfare Work Association) as galactic troubleshooters. In the year 2141, they went to the planet Agerna to investigate the case of the attack on the experiment plant for 'Vizorium' (a rare-metal element essential to the latest technologies like warp engine). They sneaked with a master thief Carson D. Carson into the laboratory of scientist Wattsman, and they discovered that the case was caused by Wattsman, who tried to create a new life form from Vizorium ore (fossils of an ancient creature 'Sadinga'). The features are the sequences of tremendous physical actions and battles against monsters. The original story by Haruka Takachiho. Produced by Shochiku and Sunrise. Directed by Koichi Mashita.<br />Dragon Ball the Movie: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle 1987 See the paragraph about the 'Dragon Ball' TV series. The second movie (46 minutes) is an original story set in the 'Castle of Fiend' where Lucifer and demons live. Kame-Sen'nin (the Master Muten) says to Son Goku and Krillin, "tack back the sleeping princess from the Castle of Fiend, and I'll take you as my students". Goku and Krillin sneak into the castle, but Bulma, who also comes to the castle with Yamcha, Puer and Oolong, following Goku, is captured by the castellan Lucifer. Directed by Daisuke Nishio. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />My Neighbor Totoro 1988 A fantasy film set in a Japanese farming village of around the 1960. The story of a 11-year-old girl named Satsuki and her four-year-old sister Mei, who move into a farming village (Tokorozawa City, Saitama Pref.), and meet Totoro, an odd-looking creature (spirit) living in the woods. The original works, screenplay and direction by Hayao Miyazaki. Produced by Studio Ghibli. Screened with co-feature: 'Grave of the Fireflies' directed by Isao Takahata.<br />Grave of the Fireflies 1988 A tragic story of a young orphaned Japanese brother and sister at the time of World War II. In the last days of the Pacific War, in 1945, a 14-year-old boy named Seita and his four-year-old sister Setsuko lose their mother and house in an air raid, and they try living alone at an air-raid shelter. An impressive film depicting hopeless love and near-death experience with cold and realistic touch. Based on the novel by Akiyuki Nosaka. The screenplay and direction by Isao Takahata. Produced by Studio Ghibli. Screened with co-feature: 'My Neighbor Totoro' directed by Hayao Miyazaki.<br />AKIRA 1988 A world-famous cyberpunk Sci-Fi action movie. Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, a manga (graphic novel) artist. Based on the full-length manga by Otomo himself. In near future 'Neo-Tokyo' after the World War III, government, armed services, urban guerilla and motorcycle gangs fight over a state secret called 'AKIRA'. The highlights are the elaborate and ultra realistic drawings/animations. The animation production by Tokyo Movie Shinsha.<br />Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack 1988 See the paragraph about the 'Mobile Suit Gundam' TV series. The first completely original movie of the Gundam series. The sequel to the story of the first TV series. The story of the final fight between Amuro Ray (who belongs to Londo Bell, the independent corps of the Earth Federal Forces) and Char Aznable (the leader of Neo Zeon) in 0093 Universal Century, 13 years after the 'One Year War'. The original works, screenplay and direction by Yoshiyuki Tomino. Produced by Sunrise.<br />Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Parallel Saiyuki 1988 See the paragraph about the Doraemon first movie. The ninth movie is a Sci-Fi action adventure with the theme of time paradox (paradox of time travel), set in ancient China and today's Japan. Nobita, Doraemon, Shizuka, Suneo and Gian went to ancient China to confirm the reality of Son Goku, who appeared in the Chinese classical fantasy novel 'Hsi Yu Chi/Journey to the West'. Nobita played Son Goku by using Doraemon's future game console 'Hero Machine', but monsters jumped out of the machine and ruled the real world. As a result, the history was altered, and today's world was changed into monsters' world. To put the history back by bringing down monsters, Nobita and his friends head to ancient China again. The original story by Fujio F. Fujiko. Directed by Tsutomu Shibayama. Produced by Shin'ei Doga.<br />Dragon Ball the Movie: Mystical Adventure 1988 See the paragraph about the 'Dragon Ball' TV series. The third movie (46 minutes) is an original story set in the Mifan Empire. Son Goku visits the empire to enter the martial arts contest, but a minister Tsuru Sennin makes his follower Tao Pai Pai kill Goku to get dragonballs. Arare-chan from 'Dr. Slump: Arare-chan' appears as a guest character. Directed by Kazuhisa Takenouchi. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Maison Ikkoku: Final Chapter 1988 See the paragraph about the 'Maison Ikkoku' TV series. The movie version released when the TV series ended. An original episode that describes the scenes at Ikkoku-kan two days before the wedding of Yusaku Godai and Kyoko Otonashi. As always, the residents at Ikkoku-kan have spent their time doing drinking parties each and every day, but it seems like Kyoko is eagerly waiting for a letter from someone, so Yusaku worries that she might change her mind. Directed by Tomomi Mochizuki. The character designer/drawing director is Yuji Moriyama. Produced by Kitty Film. The animation produced by Asia-Do.<br />Dragon Ball Z the Movie: The Dead Zone 1989 See the paragraph about the 'Dragon Ball Z' TV series. The first movie (41 minutes) is an original story after Son Goku defeated Piccolo at the 23rd World Martial-Arts Tournament. Kami-sama's old nemesis Garlic's son Garlic Jr. and his following knock down Piccolo by attacking him unawares, and they kidnap Son Goku's son Gohan with his dragonball. Gaining immortality by Shen Long's power, Garlic Jr. tries to be Earth's ruler by killing Kami-sama, but Goku, Krillin and Piccolo challenge Garlic Jr. to a death match. Directed by Daisuke Nishio. Produced by Toei Animation.<br />Kiki's Delivery Service 1989 A fantasy film based on the juvenile literature by Eiko Kadono. The story of a 13-year-old witch named Kiki, who with her black cat Jiji, left her family, and started to work as a deliverer flying on a broom, for being a full-fledged witch. The screenplay and direction by Hayao Miyazaki. Produced by Studio Ghibli. The No.1 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 1989.<br />Patlabor the Movie 1989 See the paragraph about the Patlabor OAV series. The first movie version. The story of the Special Vehicles Section 2 members of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, who fight against a cybercrime to plot to destory Tokyo by making Labors run amuck with a computer virus. The new Patlabor, 'Type-Zero' is cool. A high quality finished movie as an entertainment film. Highly recommended. The planning and original works by Headgear. Directed by Mamoru Oshii. Produced by Studio DEEN.<br />Soreike! Anpanman: Tears of the Planet KiraKira 1989 The first movie version of 'Soreike! Anpanman' (Go! Anpanman), the TV anime series (aired since 1988) based on Takashi Yanase's picture books for little children. 'Anpan' means 'a bean-paste bun' (a sweet bun filled with red-bean paste), and Anpanman is an Anpan-headed hero fighting for justice. The story of Anpanman and his fellow's fights to save the Princess Nanda from the Planet KiraKira. The character designs are simple and cute. Directed by Akinori Nagaoka. The animation produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha. The TV version has been aired in South Korea, Thailand, Spain and Brazil. There are many other movie versions too.<br />Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland 1989 A feature-length animated movie based on the American comic strip classic 'Little Nemo in Slumberland' (serialized in the 'New York Herald' since 1905) by Winsor McCay. A Disney-style fantasy animation produced by Japan-U.S. collaboration. Set in the kingdom of dreamland called 'Slumberland', a little boy Nemo and his friends, Princess Camille and Professor Genius have an adventurous journey to save the King Morpheus kidnapped by the Nightmare King. Released in the U.S. in 1992. This film was a box-office failure, but the quality of animation itself is high, and in the US the video racked up sales of 2 million. Produced by Yutaka Fujioka (Tokyo Movie Shinsha president). Directed by Masami Hata and William Hurtz (William T. Hurtz. An animator who participated in Disney's 'Fantasia'). Screenplay by Chris Columbus and Richard Outten. Screen concept by Ray Bradbury. The animation directors are Kazuhide Tomonaga and Nobuo Tomizawa. Conceptual design by Jean Moebius Giraud. The animation produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha. There are the three versions of pilot films: Sadao Tsukioka version, Yoshifumi Kondo/Kazuhide Tomonaga version, and Osamu Dezaki version.<br />The Five Star Stories 1989 The anime film version based on the first volume's episode of 'The Five Star Stories', the Sci-Fi/fantasy saga manga (graphic novel) by Mamoru Nagano (the character/mechanical designer for the TV anime 'Heavy Metal L-Gaim'). The original manga version is a very long and best-selling series started in 1986. A sweeping epic of romance and mecha-action set in the Joker Star Cluster, formed by the four solar systems and one sun-and-plannet system. On the Planet Addler, people have fought fierce battles with each other by using giant humanoid machines called 'Mortar Headds', which are piloted by knights called 'Headliners' and controlled by female androids called 'Fatimas'. The film version is the love story between Ladios Sopp, the maker of Mortar Headd 'The Knight Of Gold', and a Fatima girl, Lachesis. The original story by Mamoru Nagano. Directed by Kazuo Yamazaki. The animation produced by Sunrise. Recommended to those who like the original manga version, or who have an interest in it.<br />Doraemon the Movie: Nobita at the Birth of Japan 1989 See the paragraph about the Doraemon first movie. The tenth movie is a Sci-Fi action adventure set in Japan and the Chinese continent 70 thousand years ago. Nobita, Doraemon, Shizuka, Suneo and Gian run away from home to Japan 70 thousand years ago by riding a time machine, and they start building a utopia. They meet a boy named Kukuru, who came from Hikari (light) tribe in the Chinese continent, and Hikari tribe has been attacked by the King of Spirits 'Giga Zombie' and violent Kurayami (darkness) tribe. Nobita and his friends go to the Chinese continent to save Hikari tribe. The original story and screenplay by Fujio F. Fujiko. Directed by Tsutomu Shibayama. Produced by Shin'ei Doga.<br />Dragon Ball Z the Movie: The World's Strongest 1990 See the paragraph about the 'Dragon Ball Z' TV series. The second movie (59 minutes) is an original story describing a fight between Son Goku and evil scientists. An extraordinary scientific genius, Dr. Wheelo had died 50 years before, but his assistant Dr. Kochin colletced seven dragonballs, called Shen Long and resurrected Dr. Wheelo into a mechanical body with his brain. Dr. Wheelo takes Bulma hostage and calls Kame-Sen'nin to get the body of the world's strongest guy. Goku, Gohan and Krillin fight against Dr. Wheelo and his following to rescue Kame-Sen'nin and Bulma. Directed by Daisuke Nishio. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Dragon Ball Z the Movie: The Tree of Might 1990 See the paragraph about the 'Dragon Ball Z' TV series. The third movie (61 minutes) is an original story describing a fight between Son Goku and a heinous Saiyan fighter named Turles. Turles tries to destroy the Earth by planting the seeds of 'the Tree of Might', which sucks dry the nutrients of the earth and turns it into a desert. Goku and the Z Warriors (Gohan, Krillin, Yamcha, Tenshinhan, Chaozu and Piccolo) challenge Turles' group to a death match in order to save the Earth. Directed by Daisuke Nishio. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />A Wind Named Amnesia 1990 The third anime work based on the novel by Hideyuki Kikuchi and produced by Madhouse, following the 2 OAVs, 'Wicked City' and 'Demon City Shinjuku'. A Sci-Fi adventure story set in the near-future world after the human race lost their memories and the civilization collapsed. A Japanese boy Wataru and a mysterious woman Sophia start a journey crossing ex-United States of America, fighting against two-legged robots called 'Guardians', which were the fighting machines deployed by the security authority of San Francisco in the early 1990s, for suppressing riots. A serious science fiction with a critical view on mechanized and computerized civilization. Directed by Kazuo Yamazaki. Supervised by Taro Rin and Yoshiaki Kawajiri. The animation produced by Madhouse.<br />Chibi Maruko-chan: the Original Movie 1990 'Chibi Maruko-chan' ('Little Maruko') is a popular TV anime series (started in 1990) based on the essayistic manga (started in 1986) by Momoko Sakura, which is a nostalgic and heartwarming comedy story depicting the everyday life of Momoko Sakura (nicknamed Maruko), a nine-year-old girl in the third grade. Set in Shimizu City, Shizuoka Pref. (a local city in Japan) in the 1974. This first movie version has the original story of the friendship between Maruko's two boy classmates, Ken'ichi Ono and Satoshi Sugiyama. The original story and screenplay by Momoko Sakura. Directed by Tsutomu Shibayama. Produced by Nippon Animation.<br />Only Yesterday (Omoide Poroporo) 1991 The film based on the manga (graphic novel) by Hotaru Okamoto (story) and Yuuko Tone (drawing), produced by Studio Ghibli. The story is set in 1982. A 27-year-old single woman Taeko Okajima, who is an office worker in Tokyo, takes a vacation at her brother-in-law's home in Yamagata (Northeastern countryside in Japan). There she reconsiders herself, helping with the farm work, and thinking back on events of her childhood when she was in the fifth grade (in 1966). There are lots of nostalgic scenes of the 1960s. The screenplay and direction by Isao Takahata. The No.1 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 1991.<br />Roujin-Z 1991 A Sci-Fi slapstick action/comedy set in the near-future Japan, where the society is rapidly aging. 'Roujin' is a Japanese word for 'old man'. The story of a computer-aided automatic hospital bed for a bedridden old man, called 'Z-001', which finds the will like a robot, and begins to run amuck with an old man riding on it. The original works, screenplay and mechanical designs by Katsuhiro Otomo. The original character designs by manga (graphic novel) artist Hisashi Eguchi. Directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo. Produced by A.P.P.P.<br />Silent Möbius 1991 The first movie (53 minutes) based on Kia Asamiya's manga 'Silent Möbius' (serialized since 1988). The original manga is a sci-fi/police action set in near-future Tokyo, and it follows the world view of the movie 'Blade Runner'. The story of AMP/Attacked Mystification Police Department, a group of six women against invaders called 'Lucifer Hawks' from another dimensional world 'Nemesis'. The first movie is an original story depicting the development in which a woman with magical powers, Katsumi Liqueur became a member of AMP. The supervising direction, character design and storyboards by Michitaka Kikuchi (alias of Kia Asamiya). Directed by Kazuo Tomizawa. The animation produced by AIC. The two movie versions are better in drawing quality than the later TV series (26 episodes, aired in 1998).<br />Mobile Suit Gundam F91 1991 One of the Gundam sagas. The completely original movie by the staff of Gundam first TV series. In 0123 Universal Century, a militant group named Crossbones Vanguard occupied the space colony Frontier IV, and a high school boy named Seabook Arno joined a resistance group and started to fight Crossbones Vanguard as the pilot of Gundam F91. The supervising director is Yoshiyuki Tomino. Produced by Sunrise.<br />Dragon Ball Z the Movie: Lord Slug 1991 See the paragraph about the 'Dragon Ball Z' TV series. The fourth movie (52 minutes) is an original story describing a fight between the Z Warriors and a Namekian named Slug. An evil super Namekian Slug and his gang come to the Earth and try to convert the Earth into a vehicle (planet cruiser). Son Goku becomes a super Saiyan and fight with Son Gohan, Krillin and Piccolo against Slug and his gang. Directed by Mitsuo Hashimoto. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Dragon Ball Z the Movie: Cooler's Revenge 1991 See the paragraph about the 'Dragon Ball Z' TV series. The fifth movie (47 minutes) is an original story describing a fight between Son Goku and Cooler (Frieza's elder brother), the strongest warrior in space. After defeating Frieza, Goku returns to the Earth and enjoys camping with Gohan, Krillin and Oolong. Cooler, who comes to the Earth to destroy the Saiyans, attacks them. Goku transforms into Super Saiyan and counters Cooler. Directed by Mitsuo Hashimoto. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Ranma 1/2 the Movie: Big Trouble in Nekonron, China 1991 See the paragraph about the Ranma 1/2 TV series. The first movie version of 'Ranma 1/2', romantic comedy/martial-arts action anime based on Rumiko Takahashi's manga (graphic novel). A Chinese martial artist named Kirin, who was the head of the perfect and faultless martial art school called 'Shichifuku-Dojin/Seven-Gods', visited Tendo family's home, and he kidnapped Akane Tendo (Ranma Saotome's future bride) to take her for his wife. Ranma and all other related people go to Nekonron, China and confront the Shichifuku-Dojin/Seven-Gods martial artists to bring back Akane. Directed by Shuji Iuchi. The animation produced by Studio DEEN.<br />Gamba to Kawauso no Boken (The Adventures of Gamba and Otter) 1991 See the paragraph about the 'Gamba no Bouken/The Adventures of Gamba' TV series. A new theatrical version (80 minutes) produced as a sequel to the 1975 TV series and 1984 movie. Gamba and his friends (Boobo, Ikasama, Gakusha, Yoisho, Shijin) gathered again and took to the road to search for Shijin's lost lover, Nagisa. They found Nagisa, and she was going to escort two otters, who were pursued by wild dogs, to their habitat. Gamba and his friends also escort otters and try to find the place in which otters can safely live, called "rich river", fighting against wild dogs. The staff is different from the original TV series, but the cast is the same as the TV series. This film deals with the problem of Japanese river otter threatened with extinction, and it has a strong message against human's destruction of nature. The original story by Atsuo Saito. Directed by Shunji Oga. Produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha.<br />Porco Rosso<br />(The Crimson Pig) 1992 A comic and nostalgic film set in Italy in the 1920s. The story of a bounty hunter called Porco Rosso, who has the pig's face and fights against the flying pirates by a seaplane in the Mediterranean Sea. The original works, screenplay and direction by Hayao Miyazaki.Produced by Studio Ghibli. The No.1 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 1992.<br />Ranma 1/2 the Movie: Nihao My Concubine 1992 See the paragraph about the Ranma 1/2 TV series. The second movie version of 'Ranma 1/2', romantic comedy/martial-arts action anime based on Rumiko Takahashi's manga (graphic novel). One day in summer, the Tendo family and other related people had taken a vacation in an island in the south, but the ruler of the island Toma, who was the prince with magical power, abducted the girls one by one to make them his prospective brides. To rescue kidnapped Akane Tendo (Ranma Saotome's fiancee) and other girls, Ranma Saotome and other boys fight against Toma and the gang. There are lots of amusing action scenes. Directed by Akira Suzuki. The animation produced by Studio DEEN.<br />Dragon Ball Z the Movie: Return of Cooler 1992 See the paragraph about the 'Dragon Ball Z' TV series. The sixth movie (46 minutes) is a sequel to the previous film "Cooler's Revenge". A supergiant computer called the Big-Getestar is parasitic in the Planet New Namek. To save Namekians, Son Goku and his gang take a spaceship to the Planet New Namek, but Cooler is resurrected as 'Metal Cooler' with a mechanical body by the Big-Getestar, and he stands up against Goku and hid gang. Goku and Vegeta transform into Super Saiyans and fight against Cooler. Directed by Daisuke Nishio. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Dragon Ball Z the Movie: Super Android 13 1992 See the paragraph about the 'Dragon Ball Z' TV series. The seventh movie (46 minutes). After Dr. Gero died, his secret laboratory computers developed androids #13, #14, and #15, and they try to eliminate Son Goku. Goku, Trunks, and Vegita transform into Super Saiyans, and fight against the androids with Kuririn and Piccolo. Directed by Kazuhito Kikuchi. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Midori 1992 A cult anime film (47 minutes) based on the manga 'Shoujo Tsubaki' (the English title is "Mr. Arashi's Amazing Freak Show") by Suehiro Maruo, a manga artist known for his artistic drawing and underground style, such as erotic and grotesque. The original manga (a short story published in the magazine 'Manga Piranha' in 1981, and a long story book published from Seirindo in 1984) is an adaptation of a picture-story show on the street 'Shoujo Tsubaki (A Girl Tsubaki)' drawn by a painter Seiun in the early Showa period (around the 1930-1940s). The story is about a girl Midori, who lost her parents, and tricked by the master of a freak show tent into servitude as a freak show performer. The original movie title is 'Chika Gentou Gekiga (means 'underground lantern-slide graphic novel'): Shoujo Tsubaki'. Animator Hiroshi Harada produced this anime version independently. He drew almost all the animations by himself. The story, scripts and scenes are quite faithful to the manga version. The planning and production by Kiryukan. The screenplay and direction by Hisaaki Etsu (alias of Hiroshi Harada). The music by J. A. Seazer. In Japan, screened in 1992 Tokyo International Fantastic Film Festival and several other theaters and events in Shinto shrines and basement. In Europe, screened in film festivals many times. Never released on video in Japan, but released on DVD from CineMalta, France in 2006.<br />Ninja Scroll 1993 A quite entertaining historical romance/ninja sction, like Japanese ninja novels by Futaro Yamada. Set in the Edo period of feudal Japan under the Tokugawa Shogunate regime. A stray Ninja, Jubei Kibagami and a female Ninja of the Koga clan (beneath Tokugawa), Kagero fights fierce battles against the "Eight Devils of Kimon", the anti-Tokugawan Ninja group with unusual arts, commanded by Gemma Himuro, Jubei's long time enemy and a deathless man. This film has enjoyed greater popularity outside Japan than within Japan. In the North American market, the video was released in 1995 and racked up cumulative sales of about 800 thousand. The original story, screenplay, character creation and direction by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. Produced by Animate Film. Cooperated by Madhouse. There is also the "Ninja Scroll" TV anime series (13 episodes, aired in 2003).<br />Patlabor 2 the Movie 1993 See the paragraph about the Patlabor OAV series. The second movie version. A politico-military drama depicting the confrontations between terrorists, the police and the Self-Defense Force (the Japanese forces) in the near future Tokyo. Ex-members of the Special Vehicles Section 2 follow a terrorist (former Self-Defense Official) who tries simulating a war situation in Tokyo. The photorealistic images with using CGs, like live-action documentary footage, are worth seeing. The original works by Headgear. Directed by Mamoru Oshii. The animation production by Production I.G. There is also the novelized version, 'Tokyo War: Patlabor the Mobile Police', written by Oshii himself.<br />Sailor Moon R the Movie: The Promise of the Rose 1993 See the paragraph about the Sailor Moon TV series. The first movie version directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara, who was the series director of Sailor Moon R/Sailor Moon S/Sailor Moon SuperS TV series. The story of the Sailor Scouts' fight against an alien named Fiore, who is in the control of the flower monsters called Kisenian, and takes away Mamoru Chiba/Tuxedo Mask. More serious, dramatic and adult-oriented than the TV series. There are the five films of the Sailor Moon series in total, including the short films, and this is the greatest one among them. Produced by Toei Animation. Screened with co-feature: 'Make Up! Sailor Scouts' (a short film).<br />Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Action Kamen vs. Haigure Maou 1993 'Crayon Shin-chan' is a popular comedy anime based on the manga (graphic novel) by Yoshito Usui. The leading character is Shinnosuke Nohara (nicknamed Shin-chan), a five-year-old, impertinent preschool boy. The original manga (started in 1990) is for adult readers, but the animated TV series started in 1992 has been adapted for children. This is the first of the 'super-laughable movie' versions, and the Sci-Fi story set in an alternate Earth (parallel world) where 'Action Kamen' (the hero of Shinnosuke's favorite TV show) really exists. Directed by Mitsuru Hongo. Produced by Shin'ei Doga. There are lots of other Crayon Shin-chan movies worth noting.<br />BonoBono 1993 The animated film version of 'BonoBono', Mikio Igarashi's best-selling manga (serialized since 1986). The original manga version is a series of four/eight-panel comic strips featuring anthropomorphized animal characters inhabiting the sea and woodland, and it's seemingly an idyllic and humorous fable, but it has profound subjects like philosophy. The story of a little sea otter named BonoBono, who had a question in his mind: "why does something fun end?". One day he and his friends (chipmunk and raccoon) went to see a huge creature coming that they had never seen before. Meanwhile, adults in the woods say: "every time that creature comes, something will change in the woods." The original story, screenplay and direction by Mikio Igarashi. The animation production by Group Tac. Music by Gontiti. There is also the TV anime series (1995-1996) and the second movie version "BonoBono: the Tree of Kumomo" (a totally CG movie, 2002).<br />Dragon Ball Z the Movie: The Legendary Super Saiyan 1993 See the paragraph about the 'Dragon Ball Z' TV series. The eighth movie (72 minutes). A Saiyan named Paragus asked Vegeta to be the king of the New Planet Vegeta and to destroy the Legenday Super Saiyan. Vegeta went to the New Planet Vegeta with Son Gohan, Trunks, Kuririn, Kame-Sen'nin (the Master Muten) and Oolong, but Son Goku realized that Paragus' son Brolly was the Legenday Super Saiyan and Paragus plotted to conquer the universe by using Brolly. Goku, Gohan and Trunks try to fight against Brolly, but they are overwhelmed by Brolly's incredible fighting power. Directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Dragon Ball Z the Movie: Bojack Unbound 1993 See the paragraph about the 'Dragon Ball Z' TV series. The ninth movie (50 minutes) is an original episode after the Cell Games Saga of the TV series. Son Goku is already dead and in the afterworld with Kaio, so the leading character is Son Gohan. Gohan and his friends entered a world martial-arts tournament held by a millionaire, Mr. Money. Gohan, Kuririn and Trunks advanced to the finals, but Kuririn and Trunks were defeated by Bojack and his gang (heinous fighters who once had sealed by four Kaios). Gohan battles against Bojack to save the Earth. Directed by Yoshihiro Ueda. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Dragon Ball Z the Movie: Brolly Second Coming 1994 See the paragraph about the 'Dragon Ball Z' TV series. The tenth movie (52 minutes). Son Goten (Son Gohan's younger brother), young Trunks and Videl (daughter of Mr. Satan. Gohan's schoolmate) visit the Natade Village looking for dragonballs. Then, Brolly (a legenday super Saiyan who was defeated by Son Goku seven years ago) awakes and attacks them, mistaking Goten to be Goku. Gohan also rushes to the scene and they fight back against Brolly, but Gohan, Goten and Trunks face a hard time against Brolly. Directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Dragon Ball Z the Movie: Bio-Brolly 1994 See the paragraph about the 'Dragon Ball Z' TV series. The eleventh movie (47 minutes) is the last part of the Brolly trilogy. Android #18 and her husband Kuririn visit Mr. Satan for the payment of World Martial-Arts Tournament's prize money. Mr. Satan's childhood friend, Baron Jaguer Batta sends a challenge to Mr. Satan. #18, Son Goten and Trunks follow Mr. Satan to Jaguer's Castle of Mayqueen, and they fight against biotechnologically-resurrected Brolly (Bio-Brolly). Directed by Yoshihiro Ueda. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Street Fighter II 1994 The animated film version of the world-famous arcade game, Street Fighter II (1991-94, Capcom), which is the first big hit in man-to-man fighting game genre. The story of martial artists, Ryu and Ken Mansters, who fight with Chun-Li (a Chinese woman and narcotics agent in Interpol) and Guile (US Air Force Major) against Vega, the commander of the crime syndicate Shadowloo. Directed by Gisaburo Sugii. The animation production by Group Tac. There is also the TV anime series 'Street Fighter II V' (1995, 29 episodes) and Hollywood live-action version 'Street Fighter' (1994, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme).<br />Pompoko (Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko) 1994 A Studio Ghibli work. A humorous film featuring anthropomorphized Japanese raccoon dogs (animals like raccoons, called 'Tanuki'). The story of Tanuki living at Tama Hills in western Tokyo, who launch a movement against the housing development project of 'Tama New Town', which destroys the natural environment and their habitat. The highlights are the scenes where Tanuki change their shape into Japanese traditional monsters/specters (called 'Yokai') and trying to sabotage the housing construction. The original works, screenplay and direction by Isao Takahata. The No.1 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 1994.<br />Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Treasure of Buri Buri Kingdom 1994 See the paragraph about the Crayon Shin-chan the first movie. The second movie version is an action adventure film set in a southern island in the Indian Ocean. The evil secret society, "White Snake" abducted Shinnosuke and Prince Sunnokeshi of the Buri Buri kingdom, who looks very much like Shinnosuke, in order to get the kingdom's hidden treasure in the golden palace under the ground. Shinnosuke's parents, Hiroshi and Misae fight with Lulu, the major of the palace guard of the kingdom, against White Snake, trying to recapture Shinnosuke and the prince. The screenplay and storyboards by Mitsuru Hongo and Keiichi Hara. Directed by Mitsuru Hongo. Produced by Shin'ei Doga.<br />Slam Dunk the Movie 1 1994 See the paragraph about the 'Slam Dunk' TV series. The first movie of 'Slam Dunk'. A short anime film (30 minutes) screened in Toei Anime Fair in March 1994. Shohoku High School's basketball club (Hanamichi Sakuragi and Kaede Rukawa were new to the club) plays a practice match against Takezono Academy High School. At Takezono Academy, Hanamichi meets again Yoko Shimamura, the girl who rejected him in his junior high school days, saying "I like Oda-kun of basketball club". In the practice match, Hanamichi shows his fighting spirit against Tatsumasa Oda, who is Yoko's boyfriend and a leading center player of Takezono team. Directed by Toshihiko Arisako. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Slam Dunk the Movie 2 1994 See the paragraph about the 'Slam Dunk' TV series. The second movie of 'Slam Dunk'. A short anime film (45 minutes) screened in Toei Anime Fair in July 1994. In fourth round of the regional preliminary for InterHigh (interhighschool) Championships, Shohoku take on Tsukubu High School. Tsukubu's captain, Tomokazu Godai is a former teammate of Takenori Akagi and Kiminobu Kogure in junior high school's basketball club. Hanamichi fights against Tsukubu's center player Koichiro Nango, who fell in love with Haruko Akagi at first sight. Directed by Toshihiko Arisako. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Whisper of the Heart 1995 A pure love story of boy and girl. Based on the girls' manga (graphic novel) by Aoi Hiiragi. The leading charecter, Shizuku Tsukishima is a junior high girl and book lover. She met a boy named Seiji Amazawa, who aimed to be a violinmaker, and was attracted by him. Directed by Yoshifumi Kondo. He had worked as an animator with Miyazaki and Takahata. Produced by Studio Ghibli. The No.1 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 1995. The original of the theme song 'Country Road' is 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' by John Denver. The setting of this film is modeled after the real apartment complex city, 'Tama New Town' in western Tokyo.<br />On Your Mark 1995 A short anime movie (6 minutes and 48 seconds) produced as the promotion film for the Japanese pop duo, Chage & Aska's song with the same title. An image film, like a Sci-Fi fantasy movie, with the song in the background and without any character voice. Set in a future city, where the ground is contaminated by radioactivity and the people live under the ground. An armed police force raided a religious cult compound, and two policemen found a winged girl shackled there. They try to set her free and get her back to the sky. It's too short film, but the elaborately-crafted image is full of imagination and worth seeing. The original story, screenplay and direction by Hayao Miyazaki. Produced by Studio Ghibli. Co-featured with the movie 'Whisper of the Heart'.<br />Memories 1995 An omnibus that consists of three short anime films with gorgeous images by the executive producer and supervising director Katsuhiro Otomo. 'Magnetic Rose' (the original works by Katsuhiro Otomo, directed by Koji Morimoto) is a serious science fiction set in outer space. 'Stink Bomb' (the original works, screenplay and original character design by Katsuhiro Otomo, directed by Tensai Okamura) is a slapstick action comedy, and the leading character is a guy who begins to give off an awful smell because of taking a new drug developed in strict secrecy. 'Cannon Fodder' (the original works, screenplay, direction, original character design and art by Katsuhiro Otomo) is a story of a mobile metropolis heavily armed with lots of cannons, and this is by one-shot/one-scene shooting through most of the film. The animation production by Studio 4°C ('Stink Bomb' was produced by Madhouse).<br />Ghost in the Shell 1995 An ultra realistic Sci-Fi cyberpunk action movie by full use of computer graphics and digital technology. Set in an Asian country of the highly-networked information society in the near future, 2029 AD. The story of a female cyborg named Motoko Kusanagi, who is the major of the Security Police Section 9 (also known as 'Kokaku Kidotai/Armed Riot Police'), fights against the cyber crime by an unidentified hacker called 'Puppet Master'. The theme is something like self-identity crisis in network society and cyberspace. Based on Masamune Shirow's manga (graphic novel). Directed by Mamoru Oshii. Topped the video sales chart in Billboard, the US music magazine. The animation produced by Production I.G. There are also the TV anime series 'Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex' (2002-2003, directed by Kenji Kamiyama), 'Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG' (2004-2005, directed by Kenji Kamiyama), and the sequel movie 'Innocence: Ghost in the Shell' (2004, screenplay and direction by Mamoru Oshii).<br />Macross Plus: Movie Edition 1995 See the paragraph about the 'Macross Plus' OAV series. The movie version (115 minutes) is a redigest of the OAV series with new (about 20 minutes) scenes and shots added. I redommend the OAV version to those who want to follow the detailed episodes, and this movie version to those who want to enjoy the footage quickly.<br />Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Intrigue of Unkokusai 1995 See the paragraph about the Crayon Shin-chan the first movie. The third movie version is a Sci-Fi action/historical drama depicting the fight against a time-travel criminal who goes back into the past and tries to change the history. The Nohara family time-traveled with Ring Snowstorm, a female time-patroller from the 30th century, into the Warring States Period of feudal Japan (the year 1570), in order to prevent the crime of a history nerd from the 30th century, Hierre Jocoman, who called himself 'Unkokusai'. Shinnosuke and a boy swordsman (girl in reality) Fubuki-maru beat down Unkokusai with the help of Ring Snowstorm, and the Nohara family returned to the 20th century, but it had been another modern Japan changed into a strange world by Hierre. An entertaining film with lots of highlights, such as full-scale sword-action scenes, Sci-Fi elements dealing with time paradox theme, and the great battle between two giant robots in the final climax. The screenplay by Mitsuru Hongo and Keiichi Hara. Directed by Mitsuru Hongo. Produced by Shin'ei Doga.<br />Slam Dunk the Movie 3 1995 See the paragraph about the 'Slam Dunk' TV series. The third movie of 'Slam Dunk'. A short anime film (40 minutes) screened in Toei Anime Fair in March 1995. After losing to Kainan High School in the first round of the preliminary finals for InterHigh (interhighschool) Championships, Hanamichi presumed they lost it because of his passing mistake, and he cropped his hair short. Team Shohoku challenges a practice game against the strong Ryoukufu High School basketball team led by the captain Michael Okita, who came home from studying in the United States. Directed by Hiroyuki Kakudo. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Slam Dunk the Movie 4 1995 See the paragraph about the 'Slam Dunk' TV series. The fourth movie of 'Slam Dunk'. A short anime film (40 minutes) screened in Toei Anime Fair in July 1995. Rukawa's junior in school, Ichiro Mizusawa was the captain of the Tomigaoka Junior High Schoot basketball team, and he admired Rukawa. His dream was to join the Shohoku basketball club and lead the team to a national tournament victory with Rukawa. But he was forced to give up playing basketball because of his illness (joint tuberculosis). He wants to play one last game with Rukawa. To fulfill his wish, the Shohoku team makes him participate in a practice game (intrasquad game). Directed by Masayuki Akehi. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Dragon Ball Z the Movie: Fusion Reborn 1995 See the paragraph about the 'Dragon Ball Z' TV series. The twelfth movie (51 minutes). The dead Son Goku fights against Paikuhan in the Underworld Martial-Arts Tournament. In the same time, in the Yemma world, an accident of the spirit-laundering (purification) machine releases all of the evil energy. As a result, a psyche ogre changes into a monster Janemba, and the dead souls bring back to life all over the world. Goku and Vegeta (he is also dead but he recaptured his body) fuse into 'Gogeta' and fight against Janemba. Directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Dragon Ball Z the Movie: Wrath of the Dragon 1995 See the paragraph about the 'Dragon Ball Z' TV series. The thirteenth movie (52 minutes) is an original story after the 'Majin Buu Saga' of the TV series. An old man named Hoi asks the Z Warriors to revive Tapion, a brave from the Planet Conuts. They revive Tapion, but a giant monster Hirudegarn had been sealed in Tapion's body, and Hirudegarn also comes back to life. Hirudegarn is too tough for Son Gohan, Videl and Supuer Gotenks (a fusion between Son Goten and Trunks). Son Goku becomes a super Saiyan 3 and fight against Hirudegarn. Directed by Mitsuo Hashimoto. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Junkers, Come Here 1995 The first theatrical film directed by Junichi Sato, the first director of Sailor Moon series. A fantasy drama depicting carefully the daily life of an adolescent girl and her family. The leading character, Hiromi Nozawa is a sixth-grade school girl. She keeps a schnauzer dog named Junkers, who speaks human language. She faces the crisis of her parents' divorce, and Junkers says to her, 'I can work miracles only three times...' The original story and music by Naoto Kine. The animation production by Triangle Staff.<br />The Diary of Anne Frank 1995 The anime movie based on 'The Diary of a Young Girl/The Diary of Anne Frank' (the original Dutch title is 'Het Achterhuis'. It means 'The House Behind') written by Anne Frank (1929-1945), the worldwide best-seller that described the life in hiding in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, Netherlands in the last days of the World War II. The story of the Jewish Frank family (a 13-year-old girl Anne Frank, father Otto, mother Edith and elder sister Margot), who was obliged to live in a hiding place with other four Jews, to escape from the Nazi Holocaust against the Jews. The animattion is decorous and delicate, like the old 'World Masterpieces Theater' series produced by Nippon Animation. Directed by Akinori Nagaoka. The animation produced by Madhouse. Music by Michael Nyman.<br />Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Great Adventure in Hender Land 1996 See the paragraph about the Crayon Shin-chan the first movie. The fourth movie version is a modern horror style fantasy depicting a laughable adventure in 'Gunma Hender Land', the largest theme park in the north areas around Tokyo. Nohara family fight with Toppema Muppet (a talking doll from Magic World) against two gay 'witch' men Makao and Joma, who came from Another World and try to invade the Real World. Directed by Mitsuru Hongo. The animation production by Shin'ei Doga.<br />Dragon Ball the Movie: The Path to Power 1996 See the paragraph about the 'Dragon Ball' TV series. The seventeenth and last movie (80 minutes) of 'Dragon Ball/ Dragon Ball Z' series. Released in 1996 when the TV anime original 'Dragon Ball GT' was airing. A retelling of early 'Dragon Ball' episodes, such as the meeting of Son Goku, Bulma, and Kame-Sen'nin (the Master Muten) and the Red Ribbon Army story, with new character designs and new animations. The character designs and animations close to 'Dragon Ball GT'. Directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Hell Teacher Nūbē the Movie 1996 The first movie (48 minutes) released when the TV anime series (1996-1997. 49 episodes) was airing. Based on a horror/school-comedy manga 'Hell Teacher Nūbē' (serialized in the magazine Weekly Shonen Jump in 1993-1999) by Sho Makura (story) and Takeshi Okano (art), in which an elementary school teacher with psychic powers and "Demon's Hand", Meisuke Nueno (nicknamed 'Nūbē') exorcizes evil spirits and specters to protect his students. This movie has an original story in which Nūbē battles against an evil spirit from Tengu (Japanese long-nosed goblin) Mound, who attacks a girl in the class, named Kumiko Iijima (she is good at drawing but meek and weak-hearted). Directed by Junji Shimizu. The animation produced by Toei Animation. Screened with co-feature: 'GeGeGe no Kitaro'.<br />X: The Movie 1996 A fantasy action movie based on the popular manga (graphic novel) by CLAMP. A psychic battle set in central Tokyo of 1999. The story of a boy with psychic powers, Kamui Shirou, who as one of the seven psychics 'Dragons of the Heaven', fights against the 'Dragons of the Earth', another seven psychics trying to destroy the human race and to regenerate the Earth. The theme song was 'Forever Love' by X Japan. Directed by Taro Rin. The animation production by Madhouse. There is the TV series (2001) too.<br />Tenchi Muyo! in Love 1996 See the paragraph about the Tenchi Muyo OAV series. The first movie version and an extra episode in the storyline of the TV series. The story of Tenchi and his party's time warp into the past (the year 1970) to save Tenchi's mother, Achika Masaki, whose life is sought by a criminal named Cain. Directed by Hiroshi Negishi. Produced by AIC.<br />Black Jack: The Movie 1996 See the paragraph about the Black Jack OAV series. The movie version by the staff of the OAV series. The story of Black Jack's challenge to the mystery of an unknown infectious disease called 'Moira Syndrome'. The original works by Osamu Tezuka. Directed by Osamu Dezaki. The animation production by Tezuka Productions.<br />Mahoujin GuruGuru the Movie 1996 'Mahoujin GuruGuru' (Magical Circle GuruGuru) is Hiroyuki Eto's manga serialized in the magazine 'Monthly Shonen GanGan' since 1992. An easygoing slapstick fantasy/comedy based on the world-view of Japanese role-playing video games such as 'Dragon Quest'. The leading characters are Nike, a boy with the title of the Brave (hero), and Kukuri, a girl who uses a special magic called 'GuruGuru', and they have a journey to bring down the Satan. The movie version, which was released after the first TV anime series (aired in 1994-1995) ended, is a short film (30 minutes) depicting Nike and Kukuri's adventurous journey to Mt. Megalo in search of Megalodragon and the 'Pickle of Happiness', which can fulfill any wish. Directed by Nobuaki Nakanishi. The animation produced by Nippon Animation. There is also the second TV series 'Dokidoki Densetsu Mahoujin GuruGuru' (aired in 2000).<br />The End of Evangelion 1997 See the paragraph about the Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series. The completely new movie version that adapted the last two episodes of the TV series, which were incomplete, with incredibly high-quality images. Consists of two parts: the 25th episode 'Air' and the 26th one 'For You, My Heart and Soul'. When 'The Human Instrumentality Project'-as organic integration of all personalities-is being realized, the leading character Shinji Ikari refuses a luscious fusion with Rei Ayanami (a clone of his mother), and choses that he should be with Asuka Langley Soryu, the other he can never fuse into one with... This film is another ending with the variation on the theme presented ironically in the last part of the TV series. The planning and original works by GAINAX and Hideaki Anno. The screenplay and supervising direction by Hideaki Anno. Produced by Production I.G and GAINAX.<br />Princess Mononoke<br />(Mononoke Hime) 1997 A historical action/adventure film produced by Studio Ghibli. A fantastic story concerning conflicts between modernization and the force of nature in the medieval time of Japan. The story of Ashitaka, a boy of the Emishi Race in the Northeast, who went on a journey to the Western land, and there he met Lady Eboshi, the female leader of the iron-making community, and San (Princess Mononoke), a girl raised by the dog god. San had been fighting with the gods of the forest against Lady Eboshi who had cut down the forest. The original works, screenplay and direction by Hayao Miyazaki. The No.1 at the box-office of all movies released in Japan in 1997.<br />Perfect Blue 1997 The feature-length anime movie that adapted Yoshikazu Takeuchi's psycho horror novel. The story of Mima Kirigoe, who had been a member of the three-girl pop idol group Cham, but she left the group and begun to work as an actress. After that, the people involved with her are murdered one after another, and she falls into the world where there is no distinction between reality and delusion, like an endless nightmare. Directed by Satoshi Kon, a manga (graphic novel) artist who had participated in several anime works: 'Roujin-Z', 'Patlabor 2 the Movie' and 'Memories'. The original character designed by Hisashi Eguchi. The animation production by Madhouse.<br />Detective Conan the Movie: A Clockwork Skyscraper 1997 'Detective Conan' is a popular TV anime series (started in 1996) based on Gosho Aoyama's serious mystery manga (started in 1994) featuring Shin'ichi Kudo, who had been a 17-year-old high school boy and detective, but his body shrivelled up like a child after receiving a poison from a criminal organization called 'Black Organization', and since then he have acted as a 7-year-old grade-schooler and detective, Conan Edogawa. The first of the 'Detective Conan' movie versions which have been released in holiday period of April every year since 1997. Conan confronts the challenges of a mysterious bomber who blows up with plastic explosives the building structures designed by Teiji Moriya, an eminent architect. Directed by Kanetsugu Kodama. The animation production by Kyokuichi Tokyo Movie.<br />Cutey Honey F (Flash) the Movie 1997 The short film (38 minutes) of 'Cutey Honey F (Cutey Honey Flash)', the TV anime series (aired in 1997-1998, 39 episodes in total) produced by Toei Animation, which took over the time slot of 'Sailor Moon' series. The TV series is a remake/adaptation of 'Cutey Honey', the heroine action anime based on Go Nagai's manga (graphic novel). This series was more oriented to girls' manga (graphic novel) style than Go Nagai's original version, and it had a flavor like 'Sailor Moon' series, because it targeted the girls who watched 'Sailor Moon' series. The manga version was written and drawn by Yukako Iizuka. In this movie version, Honey Kisaragi (Cutey Honey) fights against the Panther Claw gang who attacked an archaeologist Robert Steiner (for he got a pupa of an ancient butterfly, which was said to be a key to the hidden treasure of an Ancient Kingdom) and kidnapped Honey's friend Natsuko Aki. Directed by Noriyo Sasaki.<br />Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Ankoku TamaTama Daitsuiseki 1997 See the paragraph about the Crayon Shin-chan the first movie. The fifth movie version is an action comedy film depicting the Nohara family who get caught in a fight between two clans, Tamayura and Tamayomi. Set in Tokyo and Aomori (northern end of Japan's main island). The Tamayomi clan had plotted to revive the evil genie "Jarke" and to conquer the world. To stop Tamayomi's plot, the three gay brothers (Rose, Lavender and Lemon) from Tamayura clan wrested "Jarke's ball", which was a key to revive Jarke, from the bar girl gang of Tamayomi clan, but Shinnosuke's younger sister Himawari swallowed down the ball. The Nohara family, with the three gay brothers and a female detective Yone Higashimatsuyama, fights a fierce battle against the Tamayomi gang chasing them. The screenplay, storyboards and direction by Keiichi Hara. Produced by Shin'ei Doga.<br />Tenchi Muyo! Manatsu no Eve<br />(Tenchi the Movie 2: The Daughter of Darkness) 1997 See the paragraph about the Tenchi Muyo OAV series. The second movie version and an original episode that is independent of the TV series and OAVs. The original Japanese title, 'Manatsu no Eve' means 'Eve in Midsummer'. The story of an artificial humanoid girl named Mayuka, who calls herself Tenchi's daughter. Directed by Satoshi Kimura. The animation production by AIC.<br />Slayers Great 1997 See the paragraph about the 'Slayers' first TV series. The third movie version. An original episode featuring Lina Inverse and Naga the Serpent, the main characters of 'Slayers Special', the novel version by Hajime Kanzaka. Two sorceresses, Lina and Naga came to the town of Stoner, which is famous for golem (dolls movable by magical power) production, and they get involved with the fight for hegemony between two castellans, Heisen and Granion, who try to decide by creating each one's giant golem and making them fight... Valued by fans as the greatest one among all the five 'Slayers' movie versions and a completely nonsense, laughable slapstick comedy. The original story and screenplay by Hajime Kanzaka. Directed by Hiroshi Watanabe. The animation production by J.C.STAFF.<br />Armitage III Poly-Matrix 1997 A Sci-Fi cyberpunk action anime aimed at the US market. The movie version re-edited from the OAV series 'Armitage III' (1995, 4 episodes) with new parts (about 10 minutes) added. The sound effects were re-produced by Hollywood staff. The scene is laid on Mars, in the 2179. Ross Sylibus, a lieutenant in MPD (Martian Police Dept.) who transferred from Chicago, Earth, and Naomi Armitage, a female detective in MPD who was a humanoid robot, hunt a murderer D'anclaude who killed ultra-advanced humanoid robots called "The Thirds". Directed by Hiroyuki Ochi. Produced by AIC. The voices are English only. The voice actors are: Elizabeth Berkley (Armitage), Kiefer Sutherland (Sylibus) and so on. The OAV 'Armitage III Dual-Matrix' (2002) was the sequel to this movie.<br />Noiseman Sound Insect 1997 A totally digital short film (15 minutes) by animator/director Koji Morimoto, who had participated in the OAV 'Robot Carnival', the movie 'AKIRA', and the movie 'Memories' as a core staff. High quality images with a sense of speed and stereoscopic effect by fusion of 2-D animation/3-D CG and free-flowing camera work. A story set in a town ruled by a sonic lifeform called Noiseman, who changes music into noise crystals. Directed by Koji Morimoto. The Character designers and supervising animators are Koji Morimoto and Masaaki Yuasa (setup designer of 'Crayon Shin-chan' movies). Music by Yoko Kanno. The animation production by Studio 4°C. Screened in the Tokyo International Fantastic Film Festival in 1997.<br />Rurouni Kenshin the Movie: Requiem for the Ishin Shishi 1997 'Rurouni Kenshin' is a TV anime series (aired in 1996-98, 94 episodes) based on the Japanese historical/samurai manga (graphic novel) by Nobuhiro Watsuki. This movie version is a romantic sword-play/samurai film set in Tokyo after the Meiji Restoration (the absolutism revolution in modern Japan), in 1878, and has the original story not told in the manga and the TV series. 'Ishin Shishi' means something like 'pro-Restoration warriors'. A swordman Kenshin Himura, who once had worked as an assassin to overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate (Japan's feudal government) in the end of Edo Period, meets a man named Takimi Shigure, who tries to create a new restoration by overthrowing the Meiji government. Takimi was the man who once fought as a pro-Tokugawa loyalist against Kenshin's side, anti-Tokugawan forces. The character designer, animation supervisor and director is Hatsuki Tsuji. The animation production by Studio Gallop. There are also the OAV series.<br />Hell Teacher Nūbē the Movie 2 1997 See the paragraph about 'Hell Teacher Nūbē' the first movie. The second movie (45 minutes). A monster pierrot appears from darkness deep within the mind of Jun Kagami, a lonely boy who entered Nūbē's class, and attacks Nūbē. Directed by Yukio Kaizawa (the series director of 'Hell Teacher Nūbē' TV series). The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Pokemon the First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back 1998 The animated film of 'Pokémon' (Pocket Monsters), a popular videogame on Game Boy and Nintendo 64. See the official site for Nintendo of America. Pokémon is strange creatures who fight each other by using their skills. The TV anime series has been aired since 1997 in Japan. This first feature-length anime movie version describes the story of Mewtwo, the world's strongest Pokémon created as a clone. Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama. The animation production by OLM. The No.2 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 1998. The No.24 at the box-office of in the United States in 1999.<br />Spriggan 1998 A Sci-Fi action movie based on the original story by Hiroshi Takashige and manga (graphic novel) by Ryoji Minagawa. The leading character is a 17-year-old high-school boy named Yuu Ominae, who is a 'Spriggan', the special agent of Arcam Corporation, that is an international secret organization aiming to seal off the dangerous legacy of an ultra-ancient scientific civilization. Directed by Hirotsugu Kawasaki. The supervising director is Katsuhiro Otomo. The animation production by Studio 4°C.<br />Nadesico the Movie: The Prince of Darkness 1998 See the paragraph about the Martian Successor Nadesico TV series. The completely new movie version. A sequel to the story of The TV series. The story of ex-Nadesico crew's attempts to crush a coup d'etat by 'Martian Successors'. Minute cutting of the scenes and high quality images. Directed by Tatsuo Sato. Produced by XEBEC.<br />Detective Conan the Movie: The Fourteenth Target 1998 See the paragraph about 'Detective Conan' the first movie. In the second movie version, Conan Edogawa challenges a serial murder case, in which an unidentified criminal tries to kill people in order whose names contain the playing-card numbers: from Thirteen (King) to One (Ace). The highlight is the sequence of criminal-hunting in a closed situation inside an undersea restaurant. Directed by Kanetsugu Kodama. The animation production by Tokyo Movie.<br />Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Dengeki! Buta no Hizume Daisakusen 1998 See the paragraph about the Crayon Shin-chan the first movie. The sixth movie version is a full-scale action film with tastes of the '007' series and Jackie Chan's movies. The story of the members of the secret organization for world peace 'SML', code-named 'Oiroke' (sexual attractiveness) and 'Kinniku' (muscle), who join hands with the Nohara family and 'Kasukabe Defense Forces' (Shinnosuke Nohara and his mates: Kazama-kun, Nene-chan, Masao-kun and Bo-chan), and fight against the evil organization 'Buta no Hizume' (Pig's Hoof), who tries to conquer the world by using a computer virus. An excellent action entertainment film among other 'Shin-chan' movies. The screenplay and direction by Keiichi Hara. Produced by Shin'ei Doga.<br />Pokemon 2000 the Movie (Revelation Lugia) 1999 See the paragraph about the Pokemon the first movie. The second of the Pokemon feature-length animated movies is an action/adventure film set in the southern Orange Islands. A collector, Girardin tried to capture the three Pokemons called the Titans of Fire, Ice, and Lightning, in order to get the legendary Pokemon, Lugia (the Titan of Sea), but that disturbed the ecosystem, and it caused a catastrophe on the Earth. In collaboration with Lugia, Flura (a girl in the island) and the Team Rocket, Satoshi (Ash) tries to stop the battle of the three Titans, in order to save the world. More children-oriented than the first movie 'Mewtwo Strikes Back' with a serious theme. Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama. The animation production by OLM. The No.1 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 1999. The No.59 at the box-office of in the United States in 2000.<br />My Neighbors the Yamadas 1999 A comedy movie depicting the episodes in the daily life of the Yamadas, a Japanese lazy family. The drawings in a watercolor style. Based on the four-panel comic strips by Hisaichi Ishii. The screenplay and direction by Isao Takahata. Produced by Studio Ghibli.<br />Tenchi Muyo! in Love 2<br />(Tenchi Forever) 1999 See the paragraph about the Tenchi Muyo OAV series. The third movie version and an extra episode in the story of the TV series. The story of Tenchi's friends' attempts to save Tenchi from another world ruled by the soul of Haruna Tsubaki, a woman who died young. Directed by Hiroshi Negishi. Produced by AIC.<br />You're Under Arrest: the Movie 1999 See the paragraph about the You're Under Arrest OAV series. The completely new movie version with the original story. An entertaining police-action movie set in downtown Tokyo (around the Sumida River). The strongest duo of policewomen, Natsumi Tsujimoto and Miyuki Kobayakawa chase the terrorists who attacked the Bokuto Police Station. Directed by Junji Nishimura. Produced by Studio DEEN.<br />Kochikame the Movie 1999 'Kochikame' (Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen-mae Hashutsujo/This is Police Box in front of Kameari Park in Katsushika Ward) is Osamu Akimoto's popular comedy manga (graphic novel) serialized in the magazine Weekly Shonen Jump since 1976 for long periods. The leading character Kankichi Ryotsu (nicknamed 'Ryo-san') is an unconventional police officer working at a police box. The TV anime series has been aired since 1996. This first movie version by the same staff of the TV series is a slapstick action comedy set in downtown Tokyo. Ryotsu and a female FBI agent Risa Hoshino (who is a bomb disposal expert) confront a series of bomb attacks against a vicious company Shinatora Firm. The original works by Osamu Akimoto and Atelier Beedama. Directed by Shinji Takamatsu. The animation produced by Studio Gallop. The Japanese DVD carries the English subtitle.<br />The Animated Movie Card Captor Sakura 1999 See the paragraph about the Card Captor Sakura TV series. The first movie version. Sakura Kinomoto makes a trip to Hong Kong, China with her classmate Tomoyo Daidoji, her brother Toya Kinomoto and Toya's friend Yukito Tsukishiro, and there she fights against a sorceress who is former fortune-teller. The original works by CLAMP. The screenplay by Nanase Okawa of CLAMP. Directed by Morio Asaka. The animation production by Madhouse.<br />Clover 1999 A fully-digitized, very short anime movie (5 minutes) like a music video. Co-featured with 'The Animated Movie Card Captor Sakura'. Based on CLAMP's manga, "Clover" (serialized since 1997). A mysterious girl named Sue, she is the only 'Four-Leaf' Clover among children called 'Clovers' who can practice magic. She was imprisoned in a house like a cage, but an ex-military soldier Ryu Fay Kazuhiko is asked by his boss to escort her to an amusement park called 'Fairy Park'. Poetic and beautiful images. Directed by Kitaro Kosaka. The music by Ichiko Hashimoto. The animation produced by Madhouse.<br />Revolutionary Girl Utena the Movie: Adolescence of Utena 1999 See the paragraph about the Revolutionary Girl Utena TV series. The completely original movie version based on the motif of the TV series. Another Utena story with renewed settings and characters. A more splendid, aesthetic and avant-garde film than the TV series. The highlight is the strange car-chase scene of the last part. The planning and original works by Be-Papas. The original concept and direction by Kunihiko Ikuhara. Produced by J.C.STAFF. Screened with co-feature: 'Cyber Team in Akihabara The Movie: Summer Vacation of 2011'.<br />Cyber Team in Akihabara The Movie: Summer Vacation of 2011 1999 See the paragraph about the Cyber Team in Akihabara TV series. The completely new movie version and a sequel to the TV series. In 2011, the ex-members of Akihabara Cyber Team, who have enjoyed their summer vacation, gather again and go to space, in order to stop the artificial intelligence 'Abigor' (the main computer of 'Primm Mobile', an artificial satellite) running away and to save Akihabara. Better than the TV series in quality. Recommended to those whe like the TV series. Directed by Hiroaki Sakurai. Produced by Production I.G. Screened with co-feature: 'Revolutionary Girl Utena the Movie: Adolescence of Utena'.<br />Detective Conan the Movie: The Last Wizard of the Century 1999 See the paragraph about 'Detective Conan' the first movie. The third movie version is a mystery adventure story in which Conan Edogawa fights against Kid the Master Thief and an unidentified sniper 'Scorpion' over the secret of 'Imperial Easter Eggs', the hidden treasures of Nicholas II, who was the last emperor of the Romanov Dynasty in Imperialist Russia. Directed by Kanetsugu Kodama. The animation production by Tokyo Movie.<br />Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Bakuhatsu! Onsen Wakuwaku Daikessen 1999 See the paragraph about the Crayon Shin-chan the first movie. The seventh movie version is a spy action film about bath and 'Onsen' (Japanese hot spring). The Nohara family and 'Onsen G-Men' (the secret government agency maintaining all the hot springs in Japan) fight against 'Yuzame' (a bath-hating terrorist organization plotting to wipe out all the hot springs in Japan). The sequences in which Yuzame's giant robot attacks the Saitama cities are brilliant parodies of Japanese 'Tokusatsu' (special effects monster films), such as 'Godzilla'. The screenplay and direction by Keiichi Hara. Produced by Shin'ei Doga. Screened with co-feature: 'KureShin Paradise! Made in Saitama', an omnibus short film that consists of six episodes.<br />Pokemon 3 the Movie (Lord of the Unknown Tower) 2000 See the paragraph about the Pokemon the first movie. The third of the Pokemon feature-length animated movies is an action/adventure film set in a town crystallized by a mystery Pokemon. A little girl living in the town of Greenfield, Mie (Molly) missed her parents. One day she accidently releases a Pokemon called 'the Unknown' from ancient relics, who can make a person's wishes real. The Unknown creates a lion-like Pokemon Entei as a substitute for Mie's father, and Entei kidnaps Satoshi's (Ash's) mother as a substitute for Mie's mother. Satoshi (Ash) and his friends try to save Mie and his mom from the town covered with crystal by the power of the Unknown. Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama. The animation production by OLM. The No.1 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 2000. Released in the US in 2001.<br />Detective Conan the Movie: Captured in Her Eyes 2000 See the paragraph about 'Detective Conan' the first movie. The fourth movie version. The story of Conan's challenge to solve a serial shooting murder for policemen. An important episode depicting the relationship between Shin'ichi Kudo/Conan Edogawa and Ran Mouri (Shin'ichi's girl friend since childhood and daughter of Kogoro Mouri, a private detective who keeps Conan). A good-quality film which can be enjoyed both as a detective drama and a wistful love story. Directed by Kanetsugu Kodama. The animation production by Tokyo Movie.<br />Jin-Roh/<br />The Wolf Brigade 2000 A politico-military action film set in an alternative past Japan, around the 1960. The leading character, Kazuki Fuse is a cop-soldier of the Capital Police's special panzer unit and a member of a counter-intelligence corps called the Wolf Brigade. He meets a young terrorist girl Kei Amamiya, and then gets involved in infighting of the police. The original works and screenplay by Mamoru Oshii. Directed by Hiroyuki Okiura, who was the character designer and animation director of 'Ghost in the Shell'. Produced by Production I.G.<br />Card Captor Sakura the Movie "Enchanted Cards" (The Sealed Card) 2000 See the paragraph about the Card Captor Sakura TV series. The second movie version and last program of the series. Sakura Kinomoto tries to make a declaration of love for Shao-Lang Li, a boy cardcaptor from Hong Kong, China, and challenges the last and strongest Clow Card 'Nothingness'. The original works by CLAMP. The screenplay by Nanase Okawa of CLAMP. Directed by Morio Asaka. The animation production by Madhouse.<br />Digimon Adventure: Children's War Game 2000 'Digimon Adventure' (1999-2000) is an animated TV series of 'Digimon (Digital Monster)', the popular video game series from Bandai. The second movie version. The story of a fight against a new variety of Digimon, who evolves and multiplies on the internet/cyberspace. The original concept by Akiyoshi Hongo. Directed by Mamoru Hosoda. Produced by Toei Animation.<br />Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Arashi wo Yobu Jungle 2000 See the paragraph about the Crayon Shin-chan the first movie. The eighth movie version is an laughable action adventure set in a south island. Shinnosuke with his parents and friends joined a tour with the preview of Action Kamen's new movie 'South Sea Millennium Wars' on a luxury liner, but a funky guy who names himself 'Paradise King' and his slave gang of gibbon monkeys took away adults to a south island. Gotaro Go, an actor playing the role of Action Kamen, with Shinnosuke, fights a martial-art battle and air battle against Paradise King. Relatively child-oriented and normal compared with other 'Shin-chan' movies. The screenplay and direction by Keiichi Hara. Produced by Shin'ei Doga.<br />Escaflowne 2000 See the paragraph about the Escaflowne TV series. The completely new movie version based on the storyline of the TV series. Produced by Japan-U.S.-Korea collaboration. A love romance/mecha action story set in another world called Gaea. Better than the TV series in drawing/animation quality. Directed by Kazuki Akane. Produced by Sunrise.<br />Blood: The Last Vampire 2000 An action/horror film set in the U.S. Air Force's Yokota Base in Tokyo, Japan in 1966. The story of a young girl named Saya, who kills vampires called the 'Chiropteran' with a sword. The full digital images by fusion of animation and 3-D CG. Directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo. Co-planning by Mamoru Oshii. Produced by Production I.G. and IG Plus.<br />Ah! My Goddess 2000 See the paragraph about the Ah! My Goddess OAV series. The completely new movie version based on the manga (graphic novel) by Kosuke Fujishima. A love story. Belldandy's former teacher and a rebel against the World Above, Celestine activated a virus in the system of the World Above through Belldandy in order to break the system, and Belldandy lost her memory about her life with Keiichi Morisato. Directed by Hiroaki Goda. The animation production by AIC.<br />Ojamajo Doremi # the Movie 2000 See the paragraph about the 'Ojamajo Doremi' TV series. The short movie version (27 minutes) of the second season of the TV series, 'Ojamajo Doremi # (Sharp)', and the first of the 'Ojamajo Doremi' movies. The story describing the relationship between Harukaze sisters, Doremi Harukaze and her younger sister Pop Harukaze, through the commotion made over 'Witchy Queen Heart', a magical flower brought from the Witch World. Directed by Takuya Igarashi. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Mon Colle Knights the Movie: Legend of the Fire Dragon 2000 'Mon Colle Knights' (Rokumon Tengai Mon Colle Knight) is a TV anime series (51 episodes, aired in 2000) based on 'Monster Collection', which is a trading card game developed by Group SNE. A fantasy adventure in which two elementary school children, Mondo Ooya and Rokuna Hiiragi (Mon Colle Knights) have an adventurous journey with a scientist Professor Hiiragi (Rokuna's father) in a different dimensional 'Rokumon World', where monsters exist. Also known as a slapstick comedy anime written by scriptwriter Satoru Akahori, featuring cute girl characters and parodies of past anime works such as 'Time Bokan' series. The movie version is a short film (32 minutes) with an original story. The original concept by Hitoshi Yasuda and Group SNE. The original story written by Satoru Akahori and Katsuki Hasegawa. Directed by Yasunao Aoki. The animation produced by Studio DEEN. Released in '2000 Summer Kadokawa Manga Daikoshin'.<br />Spirited Away/<br />Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi 2001 A fantasy adventure movie produced by Studio Ghibli. The story of a 10-year-old girl named Chihiro Ogino, who strayed off into a hot-spring town for curing the Holy Spirits in another world where specters and monsters live. To rescue her parents (transformed into pigs) and go back to the original world, she starts to work at a hot-spring hotel operated by the greedy witch Yu-baba. This movie scored a big hit and broke the record for attendance of movie theaters in Japan, and won the Golden Bear Award at the Berlin International Film Festival, the US Academy Award (Oscar) for Animated Feature Film, and so on. The original works, screenplay and direction by Hayao Miyazaki.<br />Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: The Adult Empire Strikes Back 2001 See the paragraph about the Crayon Shin-chan the first movie. The ninth movie version noted as the outstanding masterpiece filled with laughter and tears. Adult people all over Japan had been captivated by '20th Century Expo', the theme parks that reenacted good old days of the 1970s (the last days of Japan's high economic growth), and one day they disappeared into the theme parks, leaving their children. That was a plot by 'Yesterday Once More', an organization who despaired of the 21st century and tries to bring Japan back to the 20th century with the dreams and hopes. Shinnosuke and his parents, Hiroshi and Misae fight against the plot of 'Yesterday Once More' in order to live together with family in the 21st century. The highlight is the detailed description of The Japan World Exposition (held in Osaka, Japan in 1970). A compelling movie that moved adult audience to tears. The screenplay and direction by Keiichi Hara. Produced by Shin'ei Doga.<br />Pokemon 4Ever (Celebi A Timeless Encounter) 2001 See the paragraph about the Pokemon the first movie. The fourth of the Pokemon feature-length animated movies is a fantasy adventure film set in a forest where many Pokemons live in. Satoshi (Ash) and his party met a boy named Yukinari and a Pokemon named Celebi (the protector god of the forest), who had been transported from the world 40 years before by Celebi's time-traveling power. One of the leaders of Team Rocket, Viscious captures Celebi, but Satoshi (Ash) and his party try to save Celebi, who is changed into an evil Pokemon 'Celebi Golem' by Viscious. Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama. The animation production by OLM. The No.8 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 2001.<br />Detective Conan the Movie: Count Down to Heaven 2001 See the paragraph about 'Detective Conan' the first movie. The fifth movie version is a good suspense action set in a skyscraper. Conan Edogawa and Ai Haibara (she has a child's body like Conan, but she is a woman who was once a member of 'Black Organization'. The organization is seeking her life because she left them) with other members of 'Detective Boys' challenge a series of murders set in a twin-tower building in Nishitama City, Tokyo, owned by a computer software company 'Tokiwa'. The highlights are the action scenes like the US movies such as 'The Towering Inferno' and 'Die Hard'. Directed by Kanetsugu Kodama. The animation production by Tokyo Movie.<br />Gensomaden Saiyuki the Movie: Requiem 2001 'Gensomaden Saiyuki' is a TV anime series (aired in 2000-2001, 50 episodes) based on the manga 'Saiyuki' by female manga artist Kazuya Minekura (serialized in the magazine 'Monthly G Fantasy' in 1997-2002). The original manga is a fantasy adventure based on the setting of the Chinese classical fantasy novel 'Hsi Yu Chi/Journey to the West', and it gained popularity among girls for its cute boy characters. The movie version was released after the TV series ended. The priest Genjo Sanzo and his gang (three demons: Son Goku, Sa Gojo and Cho Hakkai), who had been on a journey to the west to stop the resurrection of the big demon Gyumao, save a girl named Houran attacked by demon birds, and she invites them to her big house. At the house, they fall into a trap by a mysterious enemy, being haunted by visions. The original story by Kazuya Minekura. The character designer and animation supervisor is Yuji Moriyama. Directed by Hayato Date. The animation produced by Studio Pierrot.<br />Avalon 2001 Not an anime, but a film produced by anime-like methods: digital process of live-action images (on-location filming in Poland) and CGs. In the near future, a woman called Ash, who is a player of a virtual-reality war game called 'Avalon', challenges the secret field of the game world, 'Special A', also known as 'class real'. The beautiful, European-style images with the color tones totally controlled. Directed by Mamoru Oshii. The leading actress is Malgorzata Foremniak. Recommended to those whe like Oshii's 'Ghost in the Shell' and Wachowski Brothers' 'The Matrix'.<br />Metropolis 2001 A retro-modern styled Sci-Fi movie based on Osamu Tezuka's manga (graphic novel), 'Metropolis' (1949), one of his 'early Sci-Fi trilogy'. The story of an android girl named Tima, who was born in Metropolis, the big city-state in the future. High-density images by fusion of classical animation and digital technology. Tezuka's characters are vividly animated. Directed by Taro Rin. The screenplay by Katsuhiro Otomo. The animation production by Madhouse.<br />Vampire Hunter D the Movie: Bloodlust 2001 A Gothic horror/action movie by Japan-U.S. collaboration. The movie version of the 3rd of the novel 'Vampire Hunter D' series by Hideyuki Kikuchi. In distant future world like the Middle Ages, a young vampire hunter named 'D', who himself is a dunpeal (half-human, half-vampire), tries getting a woman named Charlotte out of a vampire Meier Link. An artistic and beautiful film. Much better in quality than the OAV version (1985). Directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. The original character illustrations by Yoshitaka Amano. The animation production by Madhouse. The voices are English only.<br />Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door 2001 See the paragraph about the Cowboy Bebop TV series. The completely original movie edition and an extra episode in the storyline of the TV series. The story of the Bebop crew's attempts to hunt a terrorist using a biochemical weapon in a crater city on Mars. Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe. The animation produced by Sunrise and Bones.<br />Princess Arete 2001 A Sci-Fi fantasy film based and adapted on the feminist fairy tale, 'The Clever Princess' by Diana Coles from England. Set in a world like medieval Europe, a millennia after the disappearance of the wizards using high technology. The leading character, princess Arete was determined to leave her castle and start on a journey looking for her own life. One day, a surviving wizard named Box confined her within a dungeon, and sealed off her will, but she tries to regain herself on her own. A full-digital anime with delicate color tones like paintings. An allegoric film with the universal theme, 'What on earth can I do with my own hands?' Recommended to late teens and adults. The screenplay and direction by Sunao Katabuchi. Produced by Studio 4°C.<br />Hamtaro the Movie: Adventures in Ham-Ham Land 2001 'Tottoko Hamtaro' is a popular TV anime series for young children (started in 2000. Aired in 36 countries of the world), based on the illustrated story/manga (serialized since 1997) by Ritsuko Kawai. The leading character is a golden hamster Hamtaro, who is kept by a fifth-grade girl Roko-chan (real name: Hiroko Haruna). The first movie version is a story of Hamtaro and his fellow hamsters' adventures to look for the 'magic sunflower seed' (if a hamster eats it, he will be able to speak human language) in Ham-Ham Land, the dreamland where only hamsters live. A fast-moving, musical comedy with songs and rap. Directed by Osamu Dezaki. The animation production by Tokyo Movie.<br />Mooto Ojamajo Doremi the Movie: The Secret of Frog Stone 2001 See the paragraph about the 'Ojamajo Doremi' TV series. The short movie version (26 minutes) of the third season of the TV series, 'Mooto Ojamajo Doremi' (More Ojamajo Doremi), and the second of the 'Ojamajo Doremi' movies, following the first 'Ojamajo Doremi # the Movie' released in 2000. The story of Doremi Harukaze and the members of Maho-Do (trainee witches), who visited Doremi's grandpa's house in Hida (in Gifu prefecture, the countryside in central Japan) on their summer vacation. Listening to Grandma's talk about the legend (a tragic love story between a peasant Zenjuro and a witch Mayuri) concerning the 'Frog Stone' on the 'Mt. No Return', they went to the mountain in search of the Frog Stone. The CG/special effect-driven images are worth seeing. Directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within 2001 An entirely computer-generated Sci-Fi movie by the collaboration of Japanese videogame creators and Hollywood filmmakers. The original works, direction and production by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the producer of 'Final Fantasy', the role playing game series by Square. On the Earth in the 2065, a female scientist Aki Ross and members of the Deep Eyes military squadron confront the invasion by extra-terrestrial life called 'Phantom'. This film was a box-office failure, but worth seeing for its photorealistic 3-D CG images describing exquisitely human's detailed movements and skin textures.<br />Sakura Wars: The Movie 2001 'Sakura Wars' is a popular adventure video game series by Sega, and a steampunk Sci-Fi action set in an alternative past Japan of the 1920s. The leading character, Sakura Shinguji is a star member of the Imperial Opera Company consisted of only females, but it is also the secret corps who defends the metropolitan Tokyo against the attack of monsters called 'Kouma', by operating humanoid vehicles (robotic armors). This movie version has the original story of fights against the conspiracy of the Douglas Stewart Company from the US. The highlights are the high quality images by fusion of 2-D animation and 3-D CG. The original works by Oji Hiroi. The original characters designed by Kosuke Fujishima (the author of 'You're Under Arrest' and 'Ah! My Goddess'). Directed by Mitsuru Hongo. Produced by Production I.G. There are the OAV series and TV series too.<br />Di Gi Charat the Movie: A Trip to the Planet 2001 'Di Gi Charat' is a comedy anime for maniacs, starring a girl named Di Gi Charat (her real name is Chocolat, and nickname is Digiko. She is the Princess of the Planet Di Gi Charat), who works at 'Gamers', the game/anime goods store in Akihabara, Tokyo. 'Gamers' is a real store, and 'Di Gi Charat' is the store's mascot character. The first TV anime series (3 minutes per episode, 16 episodes in total) was aired in 1999. The theatrical version is a short film (20 minutes) depicting the commotion when Digiko returned to her homeland the Planet Di Gi Charat with her mates, Puchiko (Puchi Charat) and Usada (Rabi-en-Rose). The planning by Broccoli and Kadokawa Shoten Publishing. The original works by Koge Donbo. Directed by Hiroaki Sakurai. The animation production by Madhouse.<br />Azumanga-Daioh the Short Movie 2001 See the paragraph about the TV series of Azumanga-Daioh: The Animation. A very short anime movie (5 minutes) released before the TV anime series was aired. The main story is Ayumu Kasuga/Osaka's daydream in class about Chiyo Mihama's pigtails. Something like a pilot film of the TV series. Directed by Hiroshi Nishikiori. The animation produced by J.C.STAFF. Screened in 2001 'Kadokawa Anime Festival' with co-feature: 'Sakura Wars: The Movie', 'Slayers Premium' and 'Di Gi Charat the Movie: A Trip to the Planet'.<br />InuYasha the Movie: Affections Touching Across Time 2001 'InuYasha' is Rumiko Takahashi's popular manga (graphic novel) serialized in the magazine 'Weekly Shonen Sunday' since 1996, and the TV anime series has been aired since 2000. It is a romantic saga with the hero InuYasha, who is a half human and half dog-demon boy living in the Warring States Period of medieval Japan, and the heroine Kagome Higurashi, a girl in the ninth grade who is time-warped into the Warring States Period. The first movie version is an original story different from the manga version and the TV series. InuYasha and his fellows fight against Meno-maru, the son of Hyoga, who was the leader of the Chinese demon troops that invaded Japan 200 years ago. Directed by Toshiya Shinohara. The animation produced by Sunrise.<br />eX-Driver the Movie 2002 The feature-length animated movie version of "éX-D (eX-Driver)", which is an original animation video series (relesed in 2000-2001, 6 episodes), and its planning, original story and original character design are done by the manga artist Kosuke Fujishima (the author of "Ah! My Goddess" and "You're Under Arrest"). Set in the near future world where the computer-controlled, fully-automatic electric vehicles called 'AI Car' gain widespread use. The story describes the skilled people called 'eX-Drivers', who drive gasoline-powered cars for stopping runaway AI cars. The movie version is set in California, the United States of America. The three Japanese high schoolers and eX-drivers, Souichi Sugano, Lorna Endou and Lisa Sakakino, visited the USA for entering the world-class race of eX-drivers, and battle against a crime behind the race. The car action sequences featuring 3D computer graphics have a sense of speed and are worth seeing. Directed by Akira Nishimori. The animation produced by Actas. Screened with co-feature: "eX-Driver: Nina & Rei Danger Zone" (a short film).<br />Pokemon Heroes: The Movie (Latias and Latios) 2002 See the paragraph about the Pokemon the first movie. The fifth of the Pokemon feature-length animated movies is an action/adventure set in a lagoon city Alto Mare, like Venice, Italy. Satoshi (Ash) meets an elder-brother/younger-sister pair of Pokemons, Latios and Latias, the legendary protector gods of the city, who are protecting a hidden treasure called the 'Droplet of the Heart'. A pair of sister thieves, Zanna and Lion steals the treasure and activates the ancient device for protecting the city by using it, but it goes out of control, and it brings the city to the crisis of being submerged. Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama. The animation production by OLM.<br />The Cat Returns/<br />Neko no Ongaeshi 2002 A heartwarming fantasy movie produced by Studio Ghibli. A companion volume to the movie 'Whisper of the Heart'. Based on the manga (graphic novel) 'The Cat Baron' by Aoi Hiiragi, the author of 'Whisper of the Heart'. The story of a 17-year-old high school girl named Haru Yoshioka. One day she rescued a cat who was nearly run over by a truck. That cat was the Prince Loon of the Cat Kingdom. The king of the Cat Kingdom took her away to his kingdom and tried to make her married with his son. The cat baron, Humbert von Sickingen and his fellow Muta, a fat cat, try to get her out of there. The planning by Hayao Miyazaki. Directed by Hiroyuki Morita, who had participated in the movie 'My Neighbors the Yamadas' as a key animator. The No.1 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 2002. Screened with co-feature: 'Ghiblies Episode 2'.<br />Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Arashi wo Yobu Appare! Sengoku Daikassen 2002 See the paragraph about the Crayon Shin-chan the first movie. The tenth movie version is a full-scale historical drama set in the last days (the year 1574) of the Warring States Period of feudal Japan. The story of a laughable adventure of the Nohara family, who has been transferred into the Warring States Period by time warp, and a tragic love between a princess Ren Kasuga (a daughter of the feudal lord Kasuga at the Province of Musashi) and a samurai warrior Matabei Ijiri (a retainer of the Lord Kasuga). The highlight is the detailed description of the battle of the Warring States Period based on the studying historical evidence. Lots of quotations from Akira Kurosawa's samurai films. The screenplay and direction by Keiichi Hara. Produced by Shin'ei Doga. In Japan this film won various prizes such as the Animation Award of Cultural Affairs Agency's Media Art Festival.<br />Detective Conan the Movie: The Phantom of Baker Street 2002 See the paragraph about 'Detective Conan' the first movie. The sixth movie version is a mystery action set in a virtual-reality space modeled on London, England at the end of the 19th century (around 1888). The computer of a virtual simulation game 'Cocoon' was hacked by an artificial intelligence program called "Noah's Ark", and it transpired that all the game players (50 children) would die unless at least one player cleared the game. Inside the game world, Conan Edogawa and his mates selected a stage named 'old-time London', which re-created the world of the mystery novel 'Sherlock Holmes' series written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and there Conan confronts the well-known serial killer 'Jack the Ripper'. The screenplay by Hisashi Nozawa, known as a mystery writer and scenarist. Directed by Kanetsugu Kodama. The animation production by Tokyo Movie.<br />WXIII (Wasted Thirteen): Patlabor the Movie 3 2002 See the paragraph about the Patlabor OAV series. More an additional episode to the original series than the third movie version. The main characters of the original series (Special Vehicles Section 2 and Patlabors) only play supporting roles. A police drama/biological horror based on 'Waste No.13', the 9th episode of the manga (graphic novel) version by Masami Yuuki. The story of a young detective in the National Police Agency, Shin'ichiro Hata, who had investigated attacks against Labors on the coast of Tokyo Bay, and encounters a big, man-eating monster and a mysterious female scientist named Saeko Misaki. The general supervisor is Fumihiko Takayama. The animation production by Madhouse. Screened with co-feature: 'MiniPato' (screenplay by Mamoru Oshii, directed by Kenji Kamiyama).<br />MiniPato: Mobile Police Patlabor Minimum 2002 See the paragraph about the Patlabor OAV series. 3-D 'digital paper puppet' anime series using paper puppet theater-style materials. Screened with 'WXIII (Wasted Thirteen): Patlabor the Movie 3'. A comedy filled with Mamoru Oshii's erudite information, parodies and inside jokes based on the the worldview and character settings of 'Mobile Police Patlabor'. A series of three short films: the episode 1 "Cry of the Revolver Cannon!" (about 14 minutes), the episode 2 "Ah, the Glory of the '98 AV!" (about 12 minutes) and the episode 3 "The Secret of the Special Vehicle 2" (about 12 minutes). The screenplay by Mamoru Oshii. The character design and animation by Tetsuya Nishio. Directed by Kenji Kamiyama. The animation produced by Production I.G. A must-see for diehard Oshii/Patlabor fans. There is an English-dubbed version. There is also the videogame version 'Mobile Police Patlabor Comeback: MiniPato' for PlayStation Portable (2005).<br />Millennium Actress (Chiyoko Millennial Actress) 2002 The second film directed by Satoshi Kon, the director of Perfect Blue. The leading character is a Japanese actress Chiyoko Fujiwara, who was born in 1923 and was a movie queen during and after World War Two. She talks about a 'love story' through the kaleidoscope of her memories on her life and the days within the movies she appeared in (from the medieval time of war to future space age). The original works and direction by Satoshi Kon. A film in the Trompe L'oeil style, by introducing a play-within-a-play structure, like his Perfect Blue. The music by Susumu Hirasawa. Produced by Madhouse and GENCO. Distributed over the world by the DreamWorks Pictures (Hollywood movie studio).<br />TAMALA2010 a punk cat in space 2002 An artistic full-digital CG animated film (92 minutes) produced by t.o.L, a graphic artist/art director/musician duo of k. (Kazuhiro Saito) and kuno (Makiko Kuno). A space fantasy set in the 'Feline Galaxy' in 2010. The heroine is a cute and violent female cat Tamala (one year old), who lives in an apartment complex in Gonnosukezaka in Meguro-City, Tokyo on Cat Earth. She makes a crash landing with her spaceship on the violence-ridden 'Planet Q' en route to her birthplace, the Planet Edessa in Orion. She picks up a male cat Michelangelo and has fun with him, but Planet Q's city changes significantly because of Tamala, and Michelangelo approachs the hidden relationship between Tamala, a giant conglomerate 'CATTY & Co.', and 'Tatla', a giant cat robot who appears in kitties' dreams. Almost all of the images (2D/3D graphics) is created by using Adobe Systems Incorporated's softwares (Illustrator, Photoshop and After Effects). 2D graphics (characters and background) with Bézier curves have a cartoonish and retro style like Walt Disney's old animations or Osamu Tezuka's early manga works. The images are mainly black & white (partly colored). The giant robot Tatla and Meguro-City are drawn as 3D graphics. The direction and screenplay by t.o.L. The character design by Kentaro Nemoto and t.o.L. The art director is kuno (t.o.L). 2D animation by Kentaro Nemoto.<br />InuYasha the Movie: The Castle beyond the Looking Glass 2002 See the paragraph about the 'InuYasha' first movie. As with the first movie version 'InuYasha: Affections Touching Across Time' (2001), this second movie version has the original story different from the manga version and the TV series. InuYasha and his fellows fight against Kaguya, a female demon with the power to control time. Directed by Toshiya Shinohara. The animation produced by Sunrise.<br />A Tree of Palme 2002 A fantasy adventure based on the motif of 'The Adventures of Pinocchio/Le Avventure di Pinocchio', the Italian fairy tale written by Carlo Collodi. A supersensual and metaphysical film depicting 'a journey in the soul' of Palme, a wooden puppet who wants to be a human, set in another world consisted of the Roof (Touto), the Earth (Arcana) and the Below (Tamas). The settings and storyline are esoteric and hard to understand, but the beautiful images with fantastic description of another world and well-crafted animations are worth seeing. The original story, screenplay and direction by Takashi Nakamura (he had participated in 'Gold Lightan', 'Harmagedon', 'Urashiman', 'AKIRA' and 'Neo-Tokyo/Manie-Manie: Labyrinth Tales' as a key animator/animation director). The animation produced by Palm Studio. Produced by GENCO.<br />Welcome to Pia Carrot the Movie: Sayaka's Love Story 2002 The theatrical animated film (48 minutes) for all ages based on 'Welcome to Pia Carrot 3', the F&C FC02's ren'ai (bishoujo) video game forbidden for under 18s (for Windows/Dreamcast/PlayStation2) released in 2001. The original 'Welcome to Pia Carrot' is a popular series set in a family restaurant 'Pia Carrot' (released since 1996), and the OAVs also have been released. Sayaka Takai is a high school girl working part-time in Pia Carrot's main outlet. She loves a boy Akihiko Kannazuki, who is Sayaka's school friend and he also works in the main outlet, but she can never express her feelings to Akihiko. One day in the last summer vacation of her high school years, she happened to work in new 4th outlet opened on the Misaki seafront as a helper for a short time, without meeting Akihiko. Directed by Yuji Muto. The animation produced by Imove. Cooperated by Bones. Many OAVs based on the video games forbidden for under 18s have been produced, but this is the first one that released in the theaters. The theatrical version was bad in animation quality, so it is substantially redrawn on VHS/DVD version.<br />Pokemon: Jirachi Wish Maker 2003 See the paragraph about the Pokemon the first movie. The first movie of the TV series 'Pokemon Advance/Pocket Monster: Advanced Generation' (aired on TV since 2002). In the nights of Comet Millennia, which appears only seven days once a millennium, Satoshi, Takeshi, Haruka and Masato meet Butler, a magician of a traveling carnival 'Pokemon Park', and find a legendary Pokemon, Jirachi, who grants people's wish only once a millennium. Masato makes friends with Jirachi, but Butler tries to carry out an ambition, using Jirachi's power. Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama. The animation production by OLM. The No.2 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 2003.<br />One Piece the Movie: The Dead End Adventure 2003 'One Piece' is Eiichiro Oda's popular manga (graphic novel) serialized in the magazine Weekly Shonen Jump since 1997. A sea adventure/action story set in 'The Golden Age of Piracy'. The leading character, Monkey D. Luffy is a boy who got a rubber-like body that can be elastically stretched because of eating the 'Devil's Fruit'. Luffy aims to be the Pirate King, and makes an adventurous journey across the ocean, looking for a hidden treasure called 'One Piece', with his fellows. The members of the crew are: Roronoa Zoro (swordsman), Nami (navigator), Usopp (gunner), Sanji (cook), Tony Tony Chopper (reindeer/ship's doctor) and Nico Robin (archaeologist). The TV anime series has been aired since 1999. 'The Dead End Adventure' is the fourth movie version and the first feature-length film (90 minutes) of 'One Piece'. Luffy and his fellows enter a race called the 'Dead End', which is a ruleless, dangerous survival battle of the pirates. In the race, Luffy and a bounty hunter named Schreier Buskurd fight against 'General' Gasparde, an ex-navy pirate. Directed by Konosuke Uda (the director of the TV series). The animation production by Toei Animation.<br />Tokyo Godfathers 2003 The third film directed by Satoshi Kon, the director of 'Perfect Blue' and 'Millennium Actress'. A tragicomic human drama/slapstick starring a homeless trio living in Shinjuku (one of the central cities in Tokyo). The story of the trio, Gin (a middle-aged man and a self-proclaimed ex-cycle racer), Hana (a gay man and an ex-drag queen) and Miyuki (a girl who has run away from home), who took in an abandoned baby on Christmas night, and they struggle to find out the baby's parents. The highlights are the storyline full of 'miracles' such as happy accidents and fateful meetings, and the realistic scene description of the big city Tokyo. The original story and direction by Satoshi Kon. The animation produced by Madhouse. The music by Keiichi Suzuki of Moonriders.<br />Detective Conan the Movie: Crossroad in the Ancient Capital 2003 See the paragraph about 'Detective Conan' the first movie. The seventh movie version is a mystery action set in Kyoto, the ancient capital city in the western Japan. Conan Edogawa and Heiji Hattori, who is another high-school detective from Osaka, challenge the mystery of Buddhist-statue theft and a series of murders by a gang of art thieves. One motif in the storyline is Heiji's memory of his first love in Kyoto. A film full of traditional Japanese sentiment, as in the beautiful landscapes of Kyoto and Heiji's samurai sword battle against the thieves. Directed by Kanetsugu Kodama. The animation production by Tokyo Movie.<br />The Animatrix 2003 An omnibus that consists of nine short anime/CG films on the worldview of "The Matrix" trilogy, the live-action movies directed by Andy & Larry Wachowski. A collaboration between the producers of "The Matrix" and anime/CG creators from the US, Japan and South Korea. "The Final Flight of the Osiris" (directed by Andy Jones, written by Andy & Larry Wachowski, produced by Square USA) is an ultrarealistic, entire computer graphic film in the live-action style. The other works are high-quality footages fusing animation and CG in the Japanese anime style, with each creator's originality: "The Second Renaissance Part 1" and "Part 2" (directed by Mahiro Maeda, written by Andy & Larry Wachowski, produced by Studio 4°C, Japan), "Kid's Story" (directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, written by Andy & Larry Wachowski, produced by Studio 4°C), "Program" (written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, produced by Madhouse, Japan), "World Record" (directed by Takeshi Koike, written by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, produced by Madhouse), "Beyond" (written and directed by Koji Morimoto, produced by Studio 4°C), "Detective Story" (written and directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, produced by Studio 4°C), and "Matriculated" (written and directed by Peter Chung, produced by DNA, South Korea). The voice actors are Keanu Reeves (as Neo), Carrie-Anne Moss (as Trinity) and others. Recommended to those who like "The Matrix", its worldview and visual effects.<br />RahXephon: Pluralitas Concentio (Pluralistic Variation) 2003 See the paragraph about the RahXephon TV series. The movie version that reconstructed the 26 episodes of the TV series as another story with added scenes/shots (about 30 minutes) and newly dubbed voices. In the year 2027, Tokyo had been occupied by 'Mu', invaders from different dimension, and it has formed 'Tokyo Jupiter', a domed space isolated from the outside. A 29-year-old woman Haruka Shitow, who is an intelligence officer of counter-Mu strategic research institute 'Terra', tries to get her ex-classmate and boyfriend Ayato Kamina out of Tokyo Jupiter. The character settings and storyline are arranged from the perspective of love story between Ayato and Haruka, who are separated by the fault line in time and space. The original works by Bones and Yutaka Izubuchi. Directed by Tomoki Kyoda (the assistant director of the TV series). The supervising director is Yutaka Izubuchi. The animation produced by Bones.<br />Nasu: Summer in Andalusia 2003 A short anime film (47 minutes) on the bicycle road race in Spain. Based on an episode 'Summer in Andalusia' from Iou Kuroda's short manga series 'Nasu' (2000-2002). 'Nasu' is the Japanese word for 'eggplant'. The story of a bicycle racer Pepe Benengeli, who entered 'Vuelta a España' (one of the three grand tours of the world along with Tour de France and Giro d'Italia). At that time, in his native village in Andalusia, his older brother Angel and his ex-girlfriend Carmen had a wedding ceremony. The highlights are the realistic and powerful scenes of the bicycle race. The direction and screenplay by Kitaro Kosaka (animation director of 'Yawara!', 'Master Keaton', 'Whisper of the Heart', 'Princess Mononoke' and 'Spirited Away'). The animation production by Madhouse.<br />Dead Leaves 2003 A comical, funky and non-stop action anime. A 52 minutes long-short film with a whirl of crazy violent actions through most of the film. The story of the duo of Pandy and Retro, who try to escape from 'Dead Leaves', a prison on the moon. The planning and original story by Imaitoonz (illustrator/designer) and Production I.G. Directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi (the animation director of the OAV 'FLCL/Fooly Cooly'). The animation produced by Production I.G.<br />InuYasha the Movie: Swords of an Honorable Ruler 2003 See the paragraph about the 'InuYasha' first movie. The third movie version is a sword/demon action film depicting the fight against the third sword 'Souunga' (Cloud-masses Fang), one of the three swords left by InuYasha's father, following InuYasha's 'Tetsusaiga' (Iron-Pulverising Fang) and InuYasha's elder brother, Sesshomaru's 'Tenseiga' (Heavenly-Life Fang). InuYasha and Sesshomaru fight against the demon-sword 'Souunga', which breaks the border between the land of the living and land of the dead. Directed by Toshiya Shinohara. The animation produced by Sunrise.<br />Kochikame the Movie 2 2003 See the paragraph about 'Kochikame' the first movie version. The second movie version is a hilarious spectacular action film depicting the commotion about a supergiant UFO that appeared over Hawaii and Tokyo. To meet again elementary school classmate Tappei Tanaka, Kankichi Ryotsu visited Hilo City in Big Island of Hawaii, and there he saw Tappei being abducted by an unidentified armed group operating a giant UFO. To rescue Tappei from the UFO, Ryotsu and a girl named Meena (Tappei's daughter) take an old-Japanese-Navy's fighter Zero and chase the UFO, which generates a fierce tornado and attacks Tokyo. The original works by Osamu Akimoto and Atelier Beedama. Directed by Shinji Takamatsu. The animation produced by Gallop.<br />Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Arashi wo Yobu Eikou no Yakiniku Road 2003 See the paragraph about the Crayon Shin-chan the first movie. The eleventh movie version is a slapstick action/comedy going back to the basic, 'laughable' style of the TV series. One day, the Nohara family was looking forward to having an ultrarich Yakiniku (beef barbecue) dinner, but they was put on the wanted list on suspicion of heinous crimes, because of a scheme of a mysterious organization named 'Sweet Boys'. The Nohara family run from Sweet Boys pursuit, but, to eat Yakiniku for dinner, they stop escaping and decide to meet the boss of Sweet Boys, who is based in Atami (a hot spring/resort city in Shizuoka Pref). The screenplay by Tsutomu Mizushima and Keiichi Hara. Directed by Tsutomu Mizushima. Produced by Shin'ei Doga.<br />Atashinchi the Movie 2003 'Atashinchi' (means 'My Home') is Eiko Kera's heartwarming, family-oriented comedy manga (serialized in the newspaper 'Yomiuri Shimbun' Sunday edition since 1994) that describes the daily life of a Japanese average family, the Tachibanas: Mikan Tachibama (a high-school girl), younger brother Yuzuhiko, mother and father. The TV anime series has been aired since 2002. This movie version is the first full-length drama of 'Atashinchi'. One rainy day, Mikan and her mother were hit by a stroke of lightning. At that moment their souls left their bodies, and then Mikan got her mother's body, and her mother got Mikan's body. Since then, they managed to do each other's daily duty (Mikan did the housework with her mother's body, and her mother went to high school with Mikan's body), but they confront the difficult challenge that Mikan's mother has to go to Kyoto (the ancient capital city in the western Japan) for the school trip with Mikan's body. The original story by Eiko Kera. Directed by Tetsuo Yasumi. Produced by Shin'ei Doga. The theme song written and sung by the singer-songwriter Akiko Yano.<br />Kill Bill Vol.1 2003 The live-action film written and directed by the US film director, Quentin Tarantino. The first part (vol.1) includes the anime part (about 10 minutes) produced by Production I.G. An unreal and violent action movie filled with quotations and parodies from Tarantino's favorites, such as Hong Kong's kung-fu movies, Italian spaghetti western movies, Japanese historical sword-play/yakuza (gangster) films and anime. The story of a woman called 'The Bride', who had once been an assassin. She was attacked at her wedding by her former boss, Bill and his followings. Her husband and baby in her body were Killed by them, and she herself was mortally wounded. After 4 years in a coma, she wakes up and tries to kill Bill and his followings, thirsting for revenge. Lots of bloody swordfight scenes with Japanese samurai swords cutting off arms, legs and heads. The leading actress is Uma Thurman. Several Japanese actors, such as Sonny Chiba (Shin'ichi Chiba) and Chiaki Kuriyama, also appear. The character designers of the anime part are Shou Tajima and Katsuhito Ishii. The animation directors are Kazuto Nakazawa and Toshihiko Nishikubo. Recommended to those who like Kinji Fukasaku's films and action anime such as 'A Kite' and 'Blood: The Last Vampire'.<br />Howl's Moving Castle 2004 A fantasy adventure directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. Based on the novel of the same title written by Diana Wynne Jones, the British fantasy and science fiction writer. Set in another world where magic coexists with scientific civilization. A love story between an 18-year-old girl named Sophie, who works as a hatter, and a young handsome wizard Howl. One day Sophie is cursed by the Witch of the Waste, and turns into an old woman's body. After meeting with Howl and his moving castle, she becomes a live-in housekeeper for the castle, and begins a strange life with Howl, Markl (a boy and Howl's apprentice), a fire demon Calcifer (a source of power to move the castle) and a turnip-headed scarecrow. The screenplay and direction by Hayao Miyazaki. Won the Golden Osella award for Technical Contribution at the 2004 Venice International Film Festival. The No.1 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 2004.<br />Innocence: Ghost in the Shell 2004 See the paragraph about the previous work 'Ghost in the Shell'. A sequel to 'Ghost in the Shell'. Set in 2032, near-future where people live together with cyborgs and robots. The story of a cyborg detective of Public Security Section 9, Batou and his buddy Togusa, who investigate a murder case caused by girl-type pet-robots called 'gynoid'. An aesthetic and thematic film dealing with fundamental subjects such as body and soul, life and death, and love beyond anthropocentrism, with the motifs of surrealist Hans Bellmer's 'ball joint doll' and Chinese-style Gothic architecture. Absolutely gorgeous images by 2-D animation and photoreal 3-D CG. There's lots of lines quoted from classics, novels and so on. The original story by Shirow Masamune. The screenplay and direction by Mamoru Oshii. Produced by Production I.G. The novel version 'Innocence: After the Long Goodbye' written by Sci-Fi/mystery writer Masaki Yamada is another story of 'Innocence' and a previous story to the film version.<br />Steamboy 2004 A retro-styled steampunk Sci-Fi/action adventure film directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, who had directed 'AKIRA' (1988) and 'Cannon Fodder' (the third episode of 'Memories', 1995). Set in England in the middle of the 19th century, the era of the Industrial Revolution. The leading character is a 13-year-old boy, James Ray Steam, whose father Edward and grandfather Lloyd are both inventors. One day, Ray found out his father and grandfather invented a sphere that contains extra-high pressure and high-density steam, called 'Steamball'. His father Eddie tries to use Steamball for weapons with the O'hara Foundation from the US. Against using science for military, Ray and his grandfather Lloyd fight over Steamball against his father Eddie. A totally digital processed anime film fusing hand-drawn 2-D animation and 3-D CG. The meticulous and picturesque images are worth seeing. The pilot film had been produced in 1995, but it took a very long time to finish the movie, because there were some difficulties, such as intermission of the production with changes of the investing/production companies. The original story and direction by Katsuhiro Otomo. The screenplay by Katsuhiro Otomo and Sadayuki Murai. The music by Steve Jablonsky. The animation produced by Sunrise.<br />Appleseed 2004 A Sci-Fi action based on the manga (graphic novel) 'Appleseed', Masamune Shirow's commercial debut (started to be published in 1985). A totally computer-generated 3-D anime movie. Set in a future city called Olympus, where human beings live together with human clones called 'bioroid', in the year 2131, after the 'non-nuclear world war'. The leading character is a female warrior Deunan Knute, who had survived the war as a soldier. The highlight is the innovative style of images, called '3-D live anime', which is the combination of the designs of Japanese traditional anime and photorealistic, stereoscopic 3-D animation by optical motion captures of human body and facial movements. The production by Digital Frontier. Directed by Shinji Aramaki. Produced by Fumihiko Sori, who had been a CG animator of the movie 'Titanic' (1997), directed by James Cameron, and the director of Japanese live-action movie 'Ping-Pong' (2002), based on Taiyo Matsumoto's manga.<br />Mind Game 2004 The animated feature film based on Robin Nishi's cult manga (graphic novel) "Mind Game" (serialized in monthly "Comic Are!" in 1995-96). A surrealistic and artistic film fusing 2D anime with CG, 3D animation and live-action materials. A young man named Nishi, who wanted to become a manga artist, met again Myon Uchida, his childhood friend and his first crush. Myon invited him to the bar-and-grill run by her and her elder sister Yon, and there Nishi was shot by a gangster who came to collect a debt from Myon's father. Nishi was once dead, but he came back to life again, gunned down the gangster, robbed the gangster's car and run away with Myon and Yon. The highlights are the kaleidoscopic changing images running through the 'good old past' and 'shining future', with a sense of speed. The original story by Robin Nishi. The screenplay and direction by Masaaki Yuasa (character design and animation supervising of 'Noiseman Sound Insect', setup design of 'Crayon Shin-chan' movies, screenplay and animation direction of 'Cat Soup/Nekojiru-so'). The animation produced by Studio 4°C. The music by Seiichi Yamamoto (Boredoms, Omoide Hatoba, Rashinban, ROVO).<br />Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Arashi wo Yobu! Yuhi no Kasukabe Boys 2004 See the paragraph about the Crayon Shin-chan the first movie. The twelfth movie version is a fantasy action set in a world of Western films. One day the Nohara family, 'Kasukabe Defense Forces' (Shinnosuke Nohara and his mates: Kazama-kun, Nene-chan, Masao-kun and Bo-chan) and other people living in Kasukabe-city get lost in a world within a Western film, which is a city ruled by an evil governor named Justice. The time progress has been stopped there because the film is unfinished, and people are losing their memories about the past little by little. To go back to their former world, Kasukabe Defense Forces try to defeat Governor Justice and finish the film. The highlights are the last sequences of locomotive chase and fight against the giant wooden robot, "Justice Robo". The screenplay and direction by Tsutomu Mizushima. Produced by Shin'ei Doga.<br />Pokemon: Destiny Deoxys 2004 See the paragraph about the Pokemon the first movie. The second movie of the TV series 'Pokemon Advance/Pocket Monster: Advanced Generation' (aired on TV since 2002). One day a meteorite from space crashed to the earth, and a mystery humanoid pokemon 'Deoxys' appeared from it. Rekkuuza, a sky pokemon living in the ozone layer, fought against Deoxys and defeated it. A little boy Tooi was involved in the fight, and he became afraid of pokemon because of this traumatic experience. Four years later, Satoshi and the gang meet Tooi in the high-tech city Larousse, and Deoxys appears and fights against Rekkuuza again. Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama. The animation production by OLM. The No.4 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 2004.<br />Detective Conan the Movie: Magician of the Silver Sky 2004 See the paragraph about 'Detective Conan' the first movie. The eighth movie version is an air panic/suspense film set in an airplane on the fly. A stage actress, Juri Maki received a notice from Kid the Master Thief (Conan Edogawa's archrival) that he would steal her star sapphire ring, called "The Jewel of Destiny". Conan and his party escorted her to protect her from Kid, but Kid appeared in front of them, in the disguise of Shin'ichi Kudo, who was Conan's original figure. Directed by Taiichiro Yamamoto. The animation production by Tokyo Movie.<br />The Place Promised in Our Early Days 2004 The first feature-length anime movie directed by the animation creator Makoto Shinkai, who created the short full-digital anime film, 'Hoshi no Koe/The Voices of a Distant Star'. A lyrical and sentimental film on youth's dreams, longing and wistful feeling. The brightly colored images emphasizing the contrast between light and shade are beautiful. Set in another postwar world, where Japan is divided into the north (Hokkaido Island) and south (mainland), and they are separately ruled by 'the Union' and U.S. forces. The story of two junior high boys living in Aomori (northern end of the mainland), Hiroki Fujisawa and Takuya Shirakawa, who had promised to fly to a big tower in Hokkaido by a handmade small plane with a girl classmate, Sayuri Sawatari. But after that she came down with a disease of unknown cause and slept on for years without awaking. Trying to save her from eternal sleep, Hiroki and Takuya approach the secret relationship between her and 'the tower'. The original story, screenplay and direction by Makoto Shinkai. The character design and animation direction by Ushio Tazawa. Produced by Makoto Shinkai and CoMix Wave.<br />Naruto the Movie 2004 'Naruto' is Masashi Kishimoto's popular ninja action manga (graphic novel) serialized in the magazine Weekly Shonen Jump since 1999. The leading character, Naruto Uzumaki is a 12-year-old boy who with a 'Nine-tailed Fox Demon' sealed inside his body. He spends all his time doing ninja training and mission with his teammates Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno, aiming to be 'Hokage', the No.1 ninja of his home village. The TV anime series has been aired since 2002. This is the first movie version, "Naruto: Daikatsugeki! Yukihime Ninpocho Dattebayo!!" (it means something like "Naruto: A Big Action Play! It's the Snow Princess' Ninja Art Book!!"). The Team Kakashi (the teacher Kakashi Hateke and his students: Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura) is assigned to escort the actress Yukie Fujikaze, who is playing the heroine of the popular movie "Snow Princess' Adventure" series, to the 'Snow Land' for location shooting, but somehow she adamantly refuses to go to the 'Snow Land', and the film crew is attacked by mysterious ninjas. The original story by Masashi Kishimoto. Directed by Tensai Okamura. The character design by Tetsuya Nishio. The animation supervisor is Hiroto Tanaka. The animation produced by Pierrot. The cofeature is the 11-minute short film "Naruto the Movie: Konoha no Sato no Dai Undoukai (The Big Athletic Meet in Konoha no Sato)".<br />InuYasha the Movie: Fire on the Mystic Island 2004 See the paragraph about the 'InuYasha' first movie. The fourth movie version released three months after the TV series ended in September, 2004. Set in an legendary island named 'Horai-jima', which appears once every 50 years. InuYasha fights against the four gods, the 'Shitoushin', who rule the island, to get the half-demon children out of the island. The drawings are more closer to the TV series than the previous three movies. The action scenes are pretty powerful. Directed by Toshiya Shinohara. The animation produced by Sunrise.<br />Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie 2004 The feature-length movie version of the TV anime series 'Yu-Gi-Oh!' (aired on Japanese TV in 2000-2004. The original Japanese title is 'Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Monsters') based on the card game manga 'Yu-Gi-Oh' (means 'King of Games') by Kazuki Takahashi (serialized in the magazine Weekly Shonen Jump in 1996-2004). The leading character Yugi Muto is a high school boy who solved the ancient Egyptian 'Millennium Puzzle', and met his alter ego called 'Nameless Pharaoh'. He fights a fierce battle on card game against Anubis, the 'King of Devastation' who was revived from ancient Egypt and tries to destroy Yugi. Released in theaters all over the US in 2004. The No.100 at the box-office of in the United States in 2004. In Japan, this film was not released in theaters, but aired on TV and released on DVD in 2005. The original story by Kazuki Takahashi and Studio Dice. Directed by Hatsuki Tsuji. The animation produced by Studio Gallop.<br />The Prince of Tennis - Two Samurais: The First Game 2005 'The Prince of Tennis' is a TV anime series (aired in 2001-2005, 178 episodes) based on the popular tennis manga (serialized in the magazine Weekly Shonen Jump since 1999) by Takeshi Konomi. The first original movie (65 minutes) created by the TV series' staff. An amusing sports anime featuring boys who play tennis with superhuman technique. The leading character, Ryoma Echizen is a young prodigy in the tennis club of Seishun Gakuen Junior Highschool, and he has won four consecutive junior championships in the United States. Sei-Gaku tennis club members are invited to exhibition games on a luxury liner, and play exciting games with their opposing team led by the captain Ryoga Echizen, who calls himself Ryoma's older brother. The original story by Takeshi Konomi. Directed by Takayuki Hamana. The animation produced by Production I.G. Screened with co-feature: "The Prince of Tennis: A Gift from Atobe" (a short film, 29 minutes). There are also the game (PlayStation/PlayStation2/GameBoy Advance/Nintendo DS) versions, musical, live-action movie and OAV series.<br />xxxHOLiC the Movie: A Midsummer Night's Dream 2005 A surreal, occultic mystery film (60 minutes) based on CLAMP's manga 'xxxHOLiC' (serialized in weekly 'Young Magazine' since 2003). A woman named Yuko Ichihara, who realizes customer's wish of any kind if she gets paid for it, receives an invitation to a mysterious auction held in a strange old mansion. Yuko visits the mansion, along with a high school boy Kimihiro Watanuki, who has the ability to see evil spirits, and Watanuki's classmate Shizuka Doumeki, and there she meets seven enthusiastic collectors invited. The high quality animation, art and direction are worth seeing. The original story by CLAMP. Directed by Tsutomu Mizushima. The character designer and animation supervisor is Kazuchika Kise. The animation produced by Production I.G. Co-featured with 'Tsubasa Chronicle the Movie: The Princess of the Land of the Birdcage'. There is also the 'xxxHOLiC' TV series (2006) produced by Production I.G.<br />Tsubasa Chronicle the Movie: The Princess of the Land of the Birdcage 2005 A short anime film (35 minutes) based on the manga 'Tsubasa -RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE-' by CLAMP (serialized in monthly 'Shonen Magazine' since 2003). The original manga is an all-star cast story featuring many characters from CLAMP's other works, such as 'Cardcaptor Sakura', 'Chobits' and 'Magic Knight Rayearth', and its story links to 'xxxHOLiC' too. The leading characters are the Princess Sakura of the Clow Kingdom, who lost all her memories, and a boy Syaoran, who travels in another worlds to find the feathers that are the fragments of Sakura's lost memory. In this movie, Syaoran ans Sakura visit 'Land of the Birdcage', and stand up against the scheming king to save the Princess Tomoyo and the citizens. Directed by Itsuro Kawasaki. The animation produced by Production I.G. Co-featured with 'xxxHOLiC the Movie: A Midsummer Night's Dream'. There are also the TV series 'Tsubasa Chronicle' (2005-) produced by Bee Train, aired in NHK Kyoiku (Education) TV.<br />One Piece the Movie: Omatsuri Danshaku to Himitsu no Shima (Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island) 2005 See the paragraph about 'One Piece' the fourth movie (the Dead End Adventure). The six movie version and the third of the feature-length films (90 minutes). Luffy's pirate team visited 'Omatsuri Island' ('Omatsuri' means 'festival'), and there they met a mystery man named 'Baron Omatsuri'. "I'll give you a a secret treasure, if you can a hellish ordeal", said Baron Omatsuri, and Luffy tries the 'ordeal' with his fellow crew members. An unique suspense/adventure film produced by the staff which is different from that of the TV series. Directed by Mamoru Hosoda, who directed 'Digimon Adventure: Children's War Game'. The character design and animation directed by Takaaki Yamashita, Sushio and Chikashi Kubota. Produced by Toei Animation. Hosoda's elaborate direction (image composition, scene cutting and camera work) is worth seeing.<br />Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shambala 2005 See the paragraph about the 'Fullmetal Alchemist' TV series. The movie version is a sequel that describes the events two years after the last episode of the TV series. A serious political drama/fantasy action set in the two parallel worlds, another world where alchemy has evolved and the real world (interwar Germany). In the alchemical world Amestris, Alphonse Elric keeps on traveling in search for a way to reunite with his older brother, Edward (Ed). Meanwhile, being transferred from his alchemical world to the real world (Munich, Germany, 1923), Ed has been researching rocketry to find a way back home, but he is involved in the conspiracy of secret society, Thule-Gesellschaft, who regard the alchemical world as utopia 'Shambala' and try to open the gate to Shambala. The heavy drama with historical facts and real people against the backdrop of Munich Putsch in 1923 and the impressive action scenes are worth seeing. The original works by Hiromu Arakawa. The story and screenplay by Sho Aikawa. Directed by Seiji Mizushima. The animation produced by Bones.<br />Naruto the Movie 2 2005 See the paragraph about 'Naruto' the first movie. The second movie is a ninja action film full of overwhelming battle scenes, just like the first movie. One day Naruto, Shikamaru, and Sakura meet a mysterious young knight Temujin, who has traveled with his master Haido in a giant moving fortress for creating a warless, peaceful world, but Naruto challenges Haido, who has his wicked ambition. The original story by Masashi Kishimoto. Directed by Hirotsugu Kawasaki. The character design by Tetsuya Nishio. The animation produced by Studio Pierrot.<br />Air the Movie 2005 The feature-length anime movie based on VisualArt's/Key's love romance (dating-sim) game for Windows PC, "Air". The original game is known for its touching story about family's love. The TV anime series (aired in 2005, 12 episodes) is pretty faithful to the original game, but this movie version is different in plot and character settings from the original. The director Osamu Dezaki pruduced this as a film on pure love, with his own interpretation and direction. The story of a young man Yukito Kunisaki, who has traveled around, performing a puppet play on the streets. He met a sickly girl named Misuzu Kamio in a seaside town. The original story and supervising by VisualArt's/Key. Produced by Toei Animation.<br />Detective Conan the Movie: Strategy above the Depths 2005 See the paragraph about 'Detective Conan' the first movie. The ninth movie version is a mystery/action set in a luxury liner "Aphrodite" sailing on the Pacific Ocean. On the maiden voyage of "Aphrodite", Conan Edogawa, Ran Mouri, Kogoro Mouri and their fellows encounter a murder case. Conan and Kogoro attempt to find out the murderer, who tries to explode the liner. The highlights are the sudden reversal in the ending and the surprisingly outstanding performance of Kogoro Mouri. Directed by Taiichiro Yamamoto. The animation production by Tokyo Movie.<br />Pokemon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew 2005 See the paragraph about the Pokemon the first movie. The third movie of the TV series 'Pokemon Advance/Pocket Monster: Advanced Generation' (aired on TV in 2002-2006). At the Oldland Castle in the town of Lohta, a festival is thrown praising Aaron, the legendary Wave Leader Hero who stopped a war centuries ago by using the power of 'the Tree of the World's Origin'. Satoshi and Pikachu participate in a Pokemon battle to decide this year's hero and after their victory, they are chosen as the 'Wave Leader Hero'. But suddenly the phantom Pokemon Mew appears and takes Pikachu to 'the Tree of the World's Origin'. Soon afterwards, the Wave Leader Pokemon 'Lucario' is freed from his centuries-long seal by Satoshi's wave power. To rescue Pikachu, Satoshi and his gang go to 'the Tree of the World's Origin' with Lucario. Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama. The animation production by OLM. The No.2 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 2005.<br />Pretty Cure Max Heart: The Movie 2005 The feature-length movie version of 'Pretty Cure Max Heart', the second season of the TV anime series 'Pretty Cure' (the original Japanese title is 'Futari wa PreCure'), produced by Toei Animation and aired on TV since 2004. A unique series aimed at girl children, which is a fantasy 'Magical Girl' anime filled with a girlish cuteness, but it is also a hero action story that features hand-to-hand battle scenes like 'Dragon Ball Z' (the director of the TV series is Daisuke Nishio, who also directed the TV series 'Dragon Ball Z'). The leading characters are two junior high girls at the Berrone Academy, Nagisa Misumi (good at all sports and boyish) and Honoka Yukishiro (good at school and graceful), who transform themselves into the Messengers of the Light called 'Pretty Cure' (PreCure), Cure Black and Cure White, by the powers of Mepple and Mipple (magical creatures from the 'Garden of Light'), and fight against evil enemies from the World of Darkness. This movie version is set in a fairy land called the 'Garden of Hope'. Nagisa, Honoka and another girl, Hikari Kujou (Shiny Luminous) fight with seven frog-like fairies against the Witch of the World of Darkness, who robbed the 'Diamond Line' (the source of shining energy) from the Garden of Hope. Directed by Junji Shimizu.<br />Pretty Cure Max Heart: The Movie 2 2005 See the paragraph about the 'Pretty Cure Max Heart' first movie. The second movie. Nagisa Misumi, Honoka Yukishiro and Hikari Kujou visit a ski resort with friends during the winter holidays. Hikari finds a strange egg, and a little one hatched from the egg is a young Houou (phoenix) from the Garden of Cloud in the sky. Hikari names the little one 'Hinata' and makes friends with Hinata. Zakenna, the enemies from the dark world attacks and kidnaps Hinata. Nagisa and Honoka have quarrelled about trifles, but they join forces to fight against Zakenna to save Hinata. Directed by Junji Shimizu. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation -Heirs to the Stars- 2005 See the paragraph about the 'Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam' TV series. The first part of the movie version trilogy of 'Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam', produced 20 years after the TV series. A redigest of the TV series, from the 1st episode to the 14th one, with some new scenes added (about 1/3 of the total is new). To minimalize the incongruity between the old TV series images and the new degital images, all the images are treated with a digital processing called 'aging' (noise coordination, color correction and image adjustment), but the difference between them is quite obvious. The soundtrack is totally re-recorded in 5.1 channel surround sound, including the back-ground music and character voices. This first part starts with the sequence in which Kamille Bidan (a boy living in the space colony 'Green Noa 1') robbed the mobile suit 'Gundam Mk-II' from Earth Federation Space Force and joined A.E.U.G. (Anti Earth Union Government), and it ends with the scene in which Amuro Ray met Char Aznable again, who were enemies in 'the One Year War' depicted in the first TV series 'Mobile Suit Gundam'. The newly-drawn parts, especially mobile suit battle scenes are beautiful and worth seeing. The original story, screenplay, storyboards and supervising direction by Yoshiyuki Tomino. The Planning and production by Sunrise.<br />Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam II: A New Translation -Lovers- 2005 See the paragraphs about the 'Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam' TV series and the first part of the movies, 'Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation -Heirs to the Stars-'. The second part of the movie version trilogy. A redigest of the TV series, from the 15th episode to the 32nd one, with some new scenes added. Full of many fragmentary episodes, so it's hard for the people who have never seen the TV series to follow the storyline. The climax is the sequence of encounter and farewell between Kamille Bidan and Four Murasame, who is the fourth enhanced-person from Murasame Laboratory of Titans (the elite of the Earth Federal Forces) and the most popular heroine character of the series. In this second part, the voice actors of several important characters are changed from the original to new ones, such as Four Murasame (from Saeko Shimazu to Yukana) and Sarah Zabiarov (Yuuko Mizutani to Chizuru Ikewaki). In Japan this incomprehensible voice casting with an opaque selection process became a big problem among fans who love the original voice cast. The original story, screenplay, storyboards and supervising direction by Yoshiyuki Tomino. The Planning and production by Sunrise.<br />Arashi no Yoru ni (Stormy Night) 2005 The feature-length animated movie based on the long-selling picture book, 'Arashi no Yoru ni (Stormy Night)' series (the first book was published in 1994) written by Yuuichi Kimura (drawn by Hiroshi Abe). One a stormy night, a goat named Mei seeks refuge in a mountain lodge, and encounters a wolf named Gabu. They get along so well in the darkness, without knowing the other's identity, and promise to meet again on the next day. On the following day, each of them knows what the other is, but they strike up a 'secret friendship', beyond the predator-prey relationships between wolves and goats. Each group of goats and wolves realizes the forbidden friendship between Mei and Gabu, and they are forced to escape from each other's group. The original story and screenplay by Yuuichi Kimura. Directed by Gisaburo Sugii. The animation produced by Group Tac.<br />Mushiking the Movie: The Road to the Greatest Champion 2005 'Mushiking: King of the Beetles' is a trading-card style arcade game developed by Sega. The players battle with each other on the arcade machine with the scanned cards of beetles or stag beetles. This game has become very popular among younger (kindergarten and early elementary school) boys in Japan since the 2003. The game is also available on home-use game machines (GameBoy Advance and Nintendo DS). The TV anime series 'King of the Beetles Mushiking: Legend of the Forest People' (52 episodes) was aired in 2005-2006. This movie version (50 minutes) is an original story describing a mushi-battle between a dashing boy mushi-battler Kent Mirai with Mushiking and a mystery boy Shiro Mizorogi with Darkside Neptune Hercules Beetle. Based on the story of the home-use game software, and it has no relationship to the story of the TV series. Directed by Shunji Oga. The animation produced by TMS Entertainment.<br />Negadon: The Monster from Mars 2005 An entirely computer-generated (without using any live-action images) monster film (about 25 minutes) independently produced by CG (computer graphics) creator Jun Awazu, who loves Japanese Tokusatsu (special effects) monster films of the Showa (Japan's traditional era name. 1926-1988) era, including "Godzilla, King of the Monsters" (1954), and Heisei (1989-) "Gamera" trilogy. The story is set in Showa Year 100 (2025). A giant space monster from Mars, Negadon invades Tokyo. A middle age man and an authority on robotics, Ryuichi Narasaki rises up against Negadon, manipulating a giant, humanoid general-purpose robot named Miroku (MI-6) No.2. The images with realistic touches, which simulate the motif, film texture and color tone of Showa Tokusatsu, are impressive and worth seeing. The original story, screenplay and direction by Jun Awazu. The music and sound effect by Shingo Terasawa. Produced by Jun Awazu and CoMix Wave. Screened at the Tokyo International Fantastic Film Festival 2005.<br />Tales from Earthsea 2006 A fantasy adventure film (115 minutes) directed by Goro Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. Based on American novelist, Ursula K. Le Guin's fantasy novel 'Earthsea' (mainly the third of the series, 'The Farthest Shore') and Hayao Miyazaki's fantasy picture story book 'The Journey of Shuna'. Set in an archipelago world 'Earthsea'. On a quest to investigate the cause of world's abnormalities, a wizard (an archmage) named Sparrowhawk (Ged) meets a boy named Arren, who had killed hif father, the King, and run away from his land. Sparrowhawk travels on with Arren. They stay with Sparrowhawk's old female friend, Tenar, and Arren meets a mystery girl Therru, who lives with Tenar. Arren and Therru get involved in a fight between Sparrowhawk and Cob, a wizard who seeks eternal life. The direction and storyboards by Goro Miyazaki. The screenplay by Goro Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa. Goro Miyazaki is a son of Hayao Miyazaki and an amateur with no experience of animation prodution and direction. A poor imitation of the images from Hayao Mizazaki's past works. Not high in quality among the Ghibli films. The No.1 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 2006.<br />Naruto the Movie 3 2006 See the paragraph about 'Naruto' the first movie. The third movie is a ninja action film set in Crescent Moon Island, which is a land of perpetual summer on a southern sea. The prince Michiru of the Moon Country on Crescent Moon Island, who is extremely wealthy and gluttonous, and his spoiled and selfish son Hikaru were traveling the world, and they were escorted back to his home by Naruto Uzumaki, Kakashi Hatake, Sakura Haruno and Rock Lee. The prince Michiru bought an entire traveling circus on his way home and took them back his home island, but the king of the Moon Country is to be toppled in a coup by his close aides, and they are attacked by three mysterious ninjas. The battle action scenes are powerful, full of speed and worth seeing. The original story by Masashi Kishimoto. The screenplay and direction by Toshiyuki Tsuru. The character design by Tetsuya Nishio and Hirofumi Suzuki. The animation produced by Studio Pierrot.<br />Pokemon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea 2006 See the paragraph about the Pokemon the first movie. The fourth movie of the TV series 'Pokemon Advance/Pocket Monster: Advanced Generation' (aired on TV in 2002-2006) is a sea adventure/action story featuring a Pokemon ranger named Jack Walker and an aquatic Pokemon named Manaphy. A Pokemon ranger Jack Walker tries to send Manaphy to a legendary 'Sea Temple' in collaboration with Satoshi and his gang, and Marina Family, a troupe of aquatic Pokemon show, who are descendants of the People of the Water, but a pirate called 'The Phantom' follows them to get a hidden treasure 'Sea Crown' of the Sea Temple. Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama. The animation production by OLM. The No.7 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 2006.<br />Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Dinosaur 2006 2006 The first Doraemon movie after the change of the staff and cast for TV series in 2005, which is a remake (106 minutes) of the first Doraemon movie 'Nobita's Dinosaur' (released in 1980) with modern image technology including 3-D CG and the new voice cast for the TV series. The storyline adheres fairly closely to the original manga and old movie version. A visually appealing film with dynamic animation using animators' handwriting touch and beautiful background art, though it is different in visual image from the original manga and old movie version. The original story by Fujio F. Fujiko. The supervising diretor is Kozo Kusuba. The direction and storyboards by Ayumu Watanabe. The animation director is Konishi Ken'ichi from Studio Ghibli. The animation produced by Shin'ei Doga (cooperated by Vega Entertainment). The No.8 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 2006.<br />Keroro Gunso the Super Movie 2006 See the paragraphs about the 'Sgt. Frog/Keroro Gunso' TV series (1st season). The first movie (60 minutes) of the TV anime series 'Sgt. Frog/Keroro Gunso' based on Mine Yoshizaki's manga. On the way home from buying a gunpla (Gundam plastic model) 'GM Sniper Custom', Keroro and Fuyuki found a strange shrine, and they unsealed an ancient Keronian ultimate weapon 'Kiruru' by breaking someting like a vase enshrined there. Kiruru grew people's negative emotional energy. Keroro and Fuyuki, Keronians and Earthians also nearly lose their relations of friendship and trust, but to save the Earth from destruction, the Keroro platoon (Keroro, Tamama, Giroro, Kururu, Dororo) and their friends (Fuyuki, Natsumi, Momoka, Saburo, Koyuki) join all forces to try to seal Kiruru. Directed by Nobuhiro Kondo. The supervising director is Jun'ichi Sato. The animation produced by Sunrise.<br />Gin-iro no Kami no Agito 2006 The first theatrical feature (95 minutes) produced by Gonzo, the anime production company known for their digital anime featuring 3-D computer graphics, such as 'Vandread' (2000), 'SaiKano' (2002), 'Kaleido Star' (2003) and 'GANTZ' (2004). The original Japanese title means 'Silver-haired Agito'. A fantasy adventure set in the future world 300 years after, in which the civilization was destroyed, because failure of genetic manipulation gave the plants their own will, and the forests attacked people and cities. A boy named Agito, who lives in the Neutral City which coexists with the forests, meets a girl named Toola, who awoke from deep sleep of 300 years. Agito falls in love with her at first sight, but, to revive the Earth's environment, she leaves him and she and Shunack, a young soldier of the military state Ragna, tries to activate 'Istok', which is an environmental rehabilitation (defragment) system developed by Dr. Sacl (Toola's father). Similar in world-view, storyline and theme to Hayao Miyazaki's 'Future Boy Conan' (1978) and 'Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind' (1984). The CGs and background art are beautiful and worth seeing, but the script is predictable. The original conception by Umanosuke Iida. Directed by Keiichi Sugiyama. The largest film distribution company in China, China Film Group Corporation (CFGC) released this movie in mainland China in June 2006. This is the first Japanese anime movie released in theaters in China.<br />Detective Conan the Movie: The Private Eyes' Requiem 2006 See the paragraph about 'Detective Conan' the first movie. The tenth movie produced as an all-star film featuring almost all the regular characters for commemorating its 10th anniversary. A mystery action set in Yokohama (Kanagawa Pref., near Tokyo). An unknown client invites Kogoro Mouri, Ran Mouri, Conan Edogawa and 'Detective Boys' members to 'Red Castle Hotel' next to the theme park 'Miracle Land' in Yokohama, and he asks Mouri and Conan to investigate a murder case. He sets watch-type bombs on all their wrists, and he says if it is not solved within 12 hours (by 10 p.m.), the bombs will explode. In collaboration with 'high-school detective of the west' Heiji Hattori, Conan tries to solve the case. Kid the Master Thief also plays an important role. Directed by Taiichiro Yamamoto. The animation production by Tokyo Movie.<br />Tachiguishi-Retsuden (Tachigui: The Amazing Lives of the Fast Food Grifters) 2006 A feature film (104 minutes) directed by Mamoru Oshii and based on his own novel of the same title. The 3D digital images created with a method called 'Superlivemation', which uses still photos of Oshii's acquaintances (Studio Ghibli's producer Toshio Suzuki, Production I.G's president Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, anime director/mecha designer Shoji Kawamori, special effects director Shinji Higuchi, composer Kenji Kawai, anime director Kenji Kamiyama and others) as materials for paper puppet theater-style animation, like 2002 short anime films 'Mobile Police Patlabor Minimum: Minipato' (screenplay by Mamoru Oshii, directed by Kenji Kamiyama, produced by Production I.G). A comical and ideological film which examines scientifically the legendary genealogy of 'Tachiguishi/Fast Food Grifters' (fictional outlaws who eat in fast-food restaurants such as standing-up-eating soba noodle, beef and rice bowl, curry and rice, frankfurter and hamburger, without paying) in Japan's postwar history. 'Tachiguishi' is an existence which has appeared many times in Oshii's past works. Diehard Oshii fans or people interested in the theme of this film will enjoy it, but the film itself is a kind of combination of radio drama which mainly consists of narration and digital picture-story show, so it lacks the common touch and generality as a movie. The original story, screenplay and direction by Mamoru Oshii. Produced by Production I.G.<br />Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam III: A New Translation -Love is the Pulse of the Stars- 2006 See the paragraphs about the 'Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam' TV series and the first part of the movies, 'Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation -Heirs to the Stars-'. The third and last part of the movie version trilogy. A redigest of the TV series, from the 33rd episode to the last 50th one, with some new scenes added. In the last stage of so-called 'Gryps Conflict', which is the three-cornered battle of Titans (the elite of the Earth Federal Forces), AEUG (Anti-Earth Union Group) and Axis (the remnants of Zeon), AEUG's Quattro Bajeena (Char Aznable), Axis' leader Haman Karn and Titans' Paptimus Scirocco fight with each other scrambling for the colony laser 'Gryps 2' (a giant laser cannon converted from a space colony). The highlight is the last scene different from the TV version's tragic finale in which the leading character Kamille Bidan became insane. This movie trilogy can be seen as a bridge between 'Mobile Suit Gundam' first series and the movie 'Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack' in a direct line, and it contains an intention to regard the first Gundam, Zeta Gundam and "Char's Counterattack" (except "Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ") as authentic history. The original story, screenplay, storyboards and supervising direction by Yoshiyuki Tomino. The Planning and production by Sunrise.<br />Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time) 2006 The animated film based on Yasutaka Tsutsui's Sci-Fi juvenile novel 'Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo' (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time/The Little Girl Who Conquered Time) (serialized in 1965-1966). A masterpiece of refreshing young love romance/fantasy film. The original is a popular novel which has been made into TV dramas and live-action films many times, but this is the first time to be made into anime. This anime version is a sequel to the novel and it is set in the present day, about 20 years after the original story. A 17-year-old girl at a high school in Tokyo, Makoto Konno is a girl who prefers playing baseball with her two male classmates, Kousuke Tsuda and Chiaki Mamiya after school rather than having fun with her female classmates. One day, she gains the ability to leap backwards through time and do the things of her past again. Directed by Mamoru Hosoda (the director of "Digimon Adventure: Children's War Game" and "One Piece the Movie: Omatsuri Danshaku to Himitsu no Shima/Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island"). The character design by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (the character designer of "Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water" and "Neon Genesis Evangelion"). The art director is Nizo Yamamoto (the art director of "Grave of the Fireflies" and "Princess Mononoke"). The animation produced by Madhouse.<br />Brave Story 2006 A huge feature-length animated movie (111 minutes) produced by Fuji TV and Gonzo as competition with NTV and Studio Ghibli. Based on Miyuki Miyabe's fantasy novel (2003) in the RPG (Japanese role-playing video game) style. The leading character is an eleven-year-old boy Wataru Mitsuya. One day his father gets a divorce from his mother and leaves home. To recover his family bond, Wataru travels to another world called 'the Vision', the world of sword and sorcery, as an 'apprentice Brave' with several comrades, and searches for the five gems, which can change people's fate (fulfill only one wish). At the same time, a beautiful boy Mitsuru Ashikawa, who transferred to the class next to his, also searches for the gems as a 'Mage' to change his fate. The original story by Miyuki Miyabe. Directed by Koichi Chigira (the director of 'Gate Keepers', 'Full Metal Panic!' and 'Last Exile'). The character designer and animation director is Yuriko Chiba. The animation produced by Gonzo. There are also the manga/video game (Nintendo DS/PlayStation2/PlayStation Portable) versions.<br />Atagoal: Cat's Magical Forest 2006 A 3-D CG anime movie (81 minutes) in the musical/puppet play-style, based on Hiroshi Masumura's long-selling fantasy manga 'Atagoal' series (serialized since 1976), which is set in an imaginary world where cats speak human language and walk with two legs. The story of this movie version is based on a side story of the series, 'Girudoma' (serialized in the manga mangazine 'Nemuki' in 1997-1999). One day, a fat cat named Hideyoshi, who is the number-one troublemaker in Atagoal, opens a sealed door and wakes Pirea, the plant queen who has an ambition to conquer the world, from thousands of years sleep. The original story by Hiroshi Masumura. The CG director is Youichi Mouri. Directed by Mizuho Nishikubo (Toshihiko Nishikubo). Produced by Digital Frontier. The music directed by Tatsuya Ishii (ex-Kome Kome Club).<br />Paprika 2006 The animated film based on Yasutaka Tsutsui's Sci-Fi novel 'Paprika' (serialized in women's magazine 'marie claire' in 1991-1993). The leading character, Atsuko Chiba is a psychotherapist working at an institute for psychiatric treatment. She sometimes becomes a 'dream detective' code-named 'Paprika' and enters into clients' dreams to explore the secrets of their hearts, using s psychotherapy device. One day someone steals the latest model of the psychotherapy devices, 'DC Mini' (if people wear it, they will be able to share a same dream) from the institute. Because of the abuse of 'DC Mini', people's minds are invaded by bizarre dreams. Paprika dives into the crazy dreams in an attempt to discover who is the 'dream terrorist'. An entertaining psycho suspense film featuring the dreamy styles of both the original author Yasutaka Tsutsui and the director Satoshi Kon (director of 'Perfect Blue', 'Millennium Actress' and 'Paranoia Agent'). The character designer/animation director is Masashi Ando (animation director of 'Princess Mononoke' and 'Spirited Away'). The animation produced by Madhouse. The music by Susumu Hirasawa.<br />Tekkon Kinkreet (Black and White) 2006 The animated feature film (111 minutes) based on Taiyo Matsumoto's manga "Tekkon Kinkreet (English title: Black and White)" (serialized in weekly "Big Comic Spirits" in 1993-94). The leading characters are Kuro (black) and Shiro (white), a duo of homeless bad boys called 'Neko (cats)', who live in Takara, a town of loyalty, compassion and gangsters. A unique film which is both a hard-boiled violence action movie set in a chaotic and bawdy town, like Japan in Showa era or Asian cities such as Hong Kong, and a touching story describing pure friendship or brotherhood between two boys. The storyline is quite faithful to the original manga. The high-quality images created by fusion of hand-drawn 2-D anime and 3-D CG are worth seeing. Directed by Michael Arias (American visual effects/computer graphics creator/software developer. The producer of "The Animatrix"). Co-directed by Hiroaki Ando. The character designer/animation director is Shojiro Nishimi. The animation produced by Studio 4°C. The music by Plaid (English techno/electronica group). There is also a pilot film (1999) directed by Koji Morimoto.<br />Deep Imagination 2006 An anthology of five short anime films (each one is about ten minutes) created by up-and-coming creators of Studio 4°C. A new film "Garakuta no Machi (Junk Town)" (directed by Nobutake Ito) and four films of "Sweat Punch" series released on the DVD magazine "Grasshoppa!" in 2001-2002, "Pr. Dan Petory's Blues" (directed by Hidekazu Ohara), "End of the World" (directed by Osamu Kobayashi), "Comedy" (directed by Kazuto Nakazawa) and "Higan" (directed by Yasushi Muraki). Recommended to those who like Studio 4°C's works, such as "Memories", "The Animatrix", "Mind Game" and "Tekkon Kinkreet".<br />Harukanaru Toki no Naka de the Movie: Maihitoyo (In a Distant Spacetime the Movie: A Night of Dance) 2006 'Harukanaru Toki no Naka de' (means 'In a Distant Spacetime') is a Dating-sim/Visual-novel game series for women (released since 2000 on PlayStation/PlayStation2/PlayStation Portable/GameBoy Advance/Nintendo DS/Windows) developed by Ruby Party, Koei's videogame development team. A Japanese-style fantasy with similar setting as Yuu Watase's manga 'Fushigi Yuugi'. The leading character, Akane Motomiya is a high school girl who was summoned to another world 'Kyo' like Heian period's Kyoto. She became 'Ryujin no Miko' (a shrine maiden for God Dragon with power to seal off (sanctify) ghosts) who aims to bring peace to Kyo with the help of eight guardian men called 'Hachi-yo' (Eight Leaves). Following the OAV (2002-2003) and TV anime series (2004-2005), the movie version was released in 2006. An original story in which Akane meets Suefumi Oono (a new character) , a mysterious boy who lost his memory. The original manga by Tooko Mizuno. Directed by Toshiya Shinohara (director of 'InuYasha' movies). The animation produced by Yumeta Company.<br />Pretty Cure Splash Star the Movie: Tic-Tac Crisis Hanging by a Thin Thread! 2006 See the paragraph about the 'Pretty Cure Max Heart' first movie. The feature-length movie version of 'Pretty Cure Splash Star', the third season of the TV anime 'Pretty Cure/PreCure' series. Two junior high girls, Saki Hyuuga (Cure Bloom) and Mai Mishou (Cure Egret) entered a singing contest as a duo, but they quarrelled about trifles. On the stage, they forgot the lyrics and hoped the time stop, and then the time came to a sudden stop. Being taken by two spirits named Hours and Minutes, they went to 'the Land of Clock', and they found a mystery man named Sirloin stopped the time to get the world. Directed by Junji Shimizu. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Pokemon Diamond and Pearl the Movie: Dialga vs. Palkia vs. Darkrai 2007 See the paragraph about the Pokemon the first movie. The first movie of the TV series 'Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl' (aired on TV since 2006) and a commemoration of 'Pokemon' movie 10th anniversary. Satoshi and his friends come to Alamos Town to participate in a Pokemon contest, and they meet a woman named Alice. In Alamos Town, an unidentified Pokemon called Darkrai appears and he makes people have nightmares. Meanwhile, two Pokemons called gods, Dialga and Palkia fight with each other over the town, shaking time and space, and the whole town is about to collapse. Satoshi and his friends try to save the town with the help of Alice and her childhood friend and a scientist Tonio. Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama. The animation production by OLM. The No.2 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 2007.<br />Keroro Gunso the Super Movie 2: The Deep Sea Princess 2007 See the paragraphs about the 'Sgt. Frog/Keroro Gunso' TV series (1st season). The second movie and the first feature-length film (80 minutes) of 'Keroro Gunso'. An adventure/action story set in the depths of the sea. Two male and female aliens named Meru (princess) and Maru (servant) are descendants of Maronians, who had came once to invade the Earth from a watery planet Maron. Being determined to rebuild their world, they kidnap Natsumi Hinata as Meru's prospective princess to their secret deep-sea kingdom. The Keroro Platoon, Fuyuki Hinata, Momoka Nishizawa, Angol Mois and Koyuki Azumaya launch an operation to rescue Natsumi. The original story by Mine Yoshizaki. Directed by Susumu Yamaguchi. The supervising director is Jun'ichi Sato. The animation produced by Sunrise. Screened with co-feature: 'Chibi Kero: The Secret of Kero Ball!?' (a 3D-CG animated short film. 16 minutes).<br />Summer Days with Coo (Kappa no Coo to Natsuyasumi) 2007 A fantasy drama (138 minutes) based on children's literature series, "Kappa Oosawagi" (1978) and "Kappa Bikkuri-tabi" (1980) written by Masao Kogure. One day, an elementary school boy living in the suburb of Tokyo (Higashikurume City), Koichi Uehara found a baby kappa (Japanese legendary water creature) sleeping underground for the past 300 years. Koichi named it "Coo". Koichi and Coo become friends and starts living with his family. During summer vacation, Koichi and Coo take a trip to Tono (Iwate Pref.), which has a legend about kappa, to find Coo's fellows. A dramatic and impressive flim describing adolescent feelings and the friendship between a boy and a kappa coming back to modern society, including also social themes such as environmental problems, school bullying issue, family ties and media hoopla. The direction and screenplay by Keiichi Hara (the director of "Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: The Adult Empire Strikes Back"). The animation produced by Shin'ei Doga.<br />5 Centimeters Per Second: a chain of short stories about their distance. 2007 An anime film by Makoto Shinkai, who created 'Hoshi no Koe/The Voices of a Distant Star' and 'The Place Promised in Our Early Days'. A series (63 minutes) of three short episodes about a boy living in Japan from the late 1990s to the present. An elementary school boy living in Tokyo, Takaki Tono and a girl in his class, Akari Shinohara secretly love each other, but she transfers to Tochigi Pref., and since then they carry on a correspondence with each other. In the seventh grade, Takaki is being transferred to Kagoshima. On day he goes to meet Akari through the heavy snow. A lyrical and sentimental romance film depicting calf love in retrospection and change of heart in the everyday reality. The images created by using Adobe Photoshop are beautiful, especially the background art which draws lively the landscapes of the daily lives. The song used in the third episode is Masayoshi Yamazaki's "One More Time, One More Chance". The original story, screenplay and direction by Makoto Shinkai. The character design and animation direction by Takayo Nishimura.<br />Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone 2007 See the paragraph about the Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series. The first (98 minutes) of 'Evangelion the New Movie' tetralogy, which consists of three parts 'rebuilt' from the original TV series (1995-1996) and an entirely new final part. The first part '1.0' follows the TV series story, from the first episode to the sixth one, and the highlight is 'Operation Yashima' (vs Ramiel) sequence of the sixth episode. Though the TV series' key/in-between animations and layouts are reused as materials, the images are totally redrawn and recreated by using CG and digital technology. Lots of scenes and shots are added. Worth seeing. The original story, screenplay and chief direction by Hideaki Anno. Directed by Masayuki and Kazuya Tsurumaki. The animation produced by Studio Khara.<br />Oshare Majo Love and Berry: Magic of Happiness 2007 'Oshare Majo Love and Berry' is a trading-card style arcade game developed by Sega as a girls version of 'Mushiking: King of the Beetles'. The players battle with each other on the arcade machine with the scanned cards, competing over their 'fashion power' and dance. This game has become very popular among younger (kindergarten and early elementary school) girls in Japan since the 2004. Also released on home-use game machine (Nintendo DS). This theatrical version (50 minutes) is an animated movie based on the game. An original story in which Love and Berry try to bring happiness to a shy girl named Yumi, who is aspiring to become a singer, by the power of Fashion Magic. The dance scenes are created with 3-D computer graphics, like the game, and others are created in the anime-drawing style. Directed by Tomomi Mochizuki. The animation produced by TMS Entertainment.<br />Detective Conan the Movie: Jolly Roger in the Deep Azure 2007 See the paragraph about 'Detective Conan' the first movie. The eleventh movie is a mystery adventure set in Koumi Island in the Pacific Ocean. Conan Edogawa and his group visited Koumi Island on vacation. The island was known for its seafloor palace, which was an ancient monument, and in the island there was a legend about a treasure left by two female pirates, Anne Bonnie and Mary Reed 300 years ago. They met treasure hunters seeking the treasure, and one of the hunters died suspiciously from shark bites. Conan tries to solve the mystery of the case, penetrating the code of treasure legend. Directed by Taiichiro Yamamoto. The animation production by Tokyo Movie.<br />Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's New Great Adventure into the Underworld 2007 The second 'Doraemon' movie after the new TV series since 2005 (27th in all) is a remake (112 minutes) of the fifth Doraemon movie "Nobita's Great Adventure into the Underworld" (released in 1984). A fantasy adventure set in another world (a parallel world) where magic has evolved. The storyline of the original is adapted with the screenplay written by mystery writer Yuichi Shinpo. The dynamic animation with handwriting touch, like the previous film "Nobita's Dinosaur 2006", is worth seeing. The original story by Fujio F. Fujiko. The supervising diretor is Kozo Kusuba. The direction and storyboards by Yukiyo Teramoto. The animation director is Shizue Kaneko. The animation produced by Shin'ei Doga (cooperated by Vega Entertainment). The No.7 at the box-office of domestic movies in Japan in 2007. There are also the manga version (by Yasunori Okada) and videogame version (card battle RPG for Nintendo DS).<br />Yes! Precure 5 the Movie: Miracle Adventure in the Mirror Land 2007 The feature-length movie version of 'Yes! Precure 5', the fourth season of the TV anime 'Pretty Cure/PreCure' series. The Precure five members in L'École Cinq Lumières Middle School, Nozomi Yumehara (Cure Dream), Rin Natsuki (Cure Rouge), Urara Kasugano (Cure Lemonade), Komachi Akimoto (Cure Mint) and Karen Minatsuki (Cure Aqua) visit the theme park 'Princess Land' with three creatures from the Palmier Kingdom, Coco, Nuts and Milk. A villain with ambition to conquer the world, Shadow kidnap Coco and Nuts to the Mirror Land. The Precure members go to the Mirror Land to save Coco and Nuts, but 'Dark Precure 5' (created by Shadow by copying from Precure 5) attack them. Directed by Tatsuya Nagamine. The animation produced by Toei Animation.<br />Vexille 2007 A totally computer-generated 3-D anime movie directed by Fumihiko Sori (live-action movie 'Ping-Pong' director, anime movie 'Appleseed' producer). A Sci-Fi action set in the future Japan where biotechnology and robotics industry have developed rapidly. In 2077, ten years have passed since Japan closed off the whole country completely with high technology. A female commander named Vexille, who belongs to the United States Special Forces "SWORD", infiltrates Japan and there she sees the sight beyond her imagination. Like 'Appleseed', this movie is created by the technique of '3-D live anime', which is the combination of 3-D animation with motion captures and processing in 2-D anime style, but more live-action oriented in general and harder in character modelings and facial movements than 'Appleseed'. Produced by OXYBOT. The music by Paul Oakenfold. The soundtrack features Basement Jaxx, Boom Boom Satellites, DJ Shadow, Asian Dub Foundation, Carl Craig, The Prodigy, M.I.A., Dead Can Dance an others.<br />Naruto Shippuden the Movie 2007 See the paragraph about 'Naruto' the first movie. The first movie of the TV series second season 'Naruto: Shippuden' (aired since 2007). A demon called Mouryou comes back to life from underworld and targets Shion, a priestess from the country of demons. She has two special abilities, sealing the demon and predicting the deaths of humans. Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, Neji Hyuga and Rock Lee are assigned to escort Shion, but Shion predicts the death of Naruto. The original story by Masashi Kishimoto. Directed by Hajime Kamegaki. The animation produced by Studio Pierrot.<br />Keroro Gunso the Super Movie 3: Keroro Vs. Keroro-Great Duel in the Sky 2008 See the paragraphs about the 'Sgt. Frog/Keroro Gunso' TV series (1st season). The third movie (96 minutes). The Keroro Platoon and Fuyuki Hinata visit Machu Picchu (the Inca Empire site called 'City in the Sky') and Fuyuki meets a mystery girl deep inside the site. After they go back to Tokyo, 'Dark Keroro' (looks just like Keroro, but a cruel invader) appears from a big city in the sky, and he starts the aggregation on the Earth. The Keroro Platoon, Fuyuki, Natsumi Hinata, Momoka Nishizawa, Angol Mois, Koyuki Azumaya and Saburo work together to resist the invasion. Keroro fans can enjoy this movie, because it has lots of action scenes, and almost every regular character plays an active role. The original story by Mine Yoshizaki. Directed by Susumu Yamaguchi. The supervising director is Jun'ichi Sato. The animation produced by Sunrise.<br />Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea 2008 An animated feature film (101 minutes) produced by Studio Ghibli and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, four years after his "Howl's Moving Castle" (2004). A fairy story, like Andersen's "The Little Mermaid". Set in a small seaside town in Japan. The story is about the love between Ponyo, a little fish who wants to be a human, and Sosuke, a five-year-old boy living in a house on a cliff top. Though it has some attractive features such as totally hand-drawn animations without CGs and car chase scenes, this is a dreamy fantasy film without logical narrativity, so it seems to be love-it-or-hate-it among the people who liked Miyazaki's previous films. The original story, screenplay and direction by Hayao Miyazaki. The animation director is Katsuya Kondo (character designer and animation director of "Kiki's Delivery Service" and "I Can Hear the Sea/Ocean Waves", animation director of "Omoide Poroporo/Only Yesterday").<br />The Sky Crawlers 2008 An animated feature film (121 minutes) produced by Production I.G and directed by Mamoru Oshii, four years after his "Innocence: Ghost in the Shell" (2004). Based on the first book (published in 2001) of Hiroshi Mori's novel, "The Sky Crawlers" series. Set in a near-future world, where lasting peace had been realized, and war-contracting companies manage "a war as a show" (fighter air battle). The fighter pilots are young people called "Kildren", who live forever in adolescence unless they die in the sky. A wistful and sentimental love romance film full of sadness and resignation, set in an endless world repeated eternally. The air battle sequences using CGs are thrilling and worth seeing. The screenplay by Chihiro Ito (screenplay of live action films, "Socrates in Love" and "Spring Snow"). The sequence director is Toshihiko Nishikubo. The character designer and chief animation director is Tetsuya Nishio. There is also the flight shooter game "The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces" for Nintendo Wii.Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01924263999017748089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914027483132754571.post-48899644476689528192008-09-26T07:45:00.000-07:002008-09-26T10:14:30.748-07:00The Baikonur Cosmodrome<div>The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part 1</div><br /><div>When NASA's last scheduled Space Shuttle mission lands in June of 2010, the United States will not have the capability to get astronauts into space again until the scheduled launch of the new Orion spacecraft in 2015. Over those five years, the U.S. manned space program will be relying heavily on Russia and its Baikonur Cosmodrome facility in Kazakhstan. Baikonur is an entire Kazakh city, rented and administered by Russia. The Baikonur Cosmodrome was founded in 1955, making it one of the oldest space launch facilites still in operation. Here are collected some photographs of manned and unmanned launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome over the past several years.</div><div> </div><div>The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part 2</div><div>The Soyuz TMA-3 spacecraft and its booster rocket, transported by rail to the launch pad to be raised to a vertical launch position at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan on October 16, 2003, in preparation for liftoff October 18 to carry C. Michael Foale, Expedition 8 commander and NASA science officer; Alexander Kaleri, Soyuz Commander and flight engineer; and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Pedro Duque of Spain to the International Space Station. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250368264881388626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxiU-3QMvaGtLh0WabWHCh9BJy25bcc92UpPPT9YTNvxWwTZYwRgqxYdr-7J7a1I_5xxdNm8t_5xaZaygu7xSwsP2GHUJ8HU9lyRFadUY2lx-TxLJQDFt5N7mAvJ7FHltY334CsuxK7M/s400/baikonur01.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part 3 </div><div>A view of the bottom of the booster rocket for the Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft, shortly after the two were mated at an integration facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on April 12, 2005. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250368262585473186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzXzeetzkX8wEcgav2d7jxS1zO3JcNSgdMgnub0iRIKplzXUkBlJP0ppbE5zhG9xSTwUrWTyfxbCb450Z6rB9PMiPF_aKKPtmnhEb5n6P4y1HM8TMLF_J1dWWBCVDR97jSOcyr1XnJCI/s400/baikonur02.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part4 </div><div>Soyuz TMA-11 prime and backup crewmembers are protected behind glass during the State Commission meeting and press conference Oct. 9, 2007 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The crew was in preparation for their launch to the International Space Station Oct. 10 in their Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft. (NASA/Bill Ingalls<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbsbJBkJrNVnZL_ucgTV62icXhAjSnDbAXaT78sQvWWx1e-HdI6XT26TKZxyLoQjdBNAOf3cQnm7ctF-8VrhWkU1cfkB1XGQC5kdyW05Y0anoQM3ql6eMxYP2nurQmAFDAcv1Ux_X4Aw/s1600-h/baikonur03.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250368252671538146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbsbJBkJrNVnZL_ucgTV62icXhAjSnDbAXaT78sQvWWx1e-HdI6XT26TKZxyLoQjdBNAOf3cQnm7ctF-8VrhWkU1cfkB1XGQC5kdyW05Y0anoQM3ql6eMxYP2nurQmAFDAcv1Ux_X4Aw/s400/baikonur03.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part5<br />NASA astronaut Peggy A. Whitson, Expedition 16 commander, has a pressure suit leak check performed on her Russian Sokol launch and entry suit at RSC Energia Assembly and Testing Facility in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, in preparation for her launch on a Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft to the International Space Station scheduled for Oct. 10. (NASA/Victor Zelentsov)</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250361671807125346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvN2sJyFUE2Q5CTVYt0-qgapnBy1o5uzuWzQpgHep1UKZI77q8FRYdSeBfPCXVfGZFjBo02pODzAD_RG4sFrZnbqSDll-WOcjSL9GY5r-yiciOY1EqCrLmF8xMG_CYUc6DNc2lcxbpUI/s400/baikonur04.jpg" border="0" />The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part6<br />Russian cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov (C), US astronaut Michael Fincke (L) and his compatriot, space tourist Richard Garriott (R) practice inside a Soyuz-TMA space flight simulator in Star City (a training facility north of Moscow, Russia) on September 19, 2008. (DMITRY KOSTYUKOV/AFP/Getty Images)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250361672089498754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjI5uxYwOof7x0aPGgj1xbzO_0-_rPyJxdcGSsVbB6sAq37olQrPxC413ieED2LN9k9mv1fw75twQRlsCCzxzqvdi1p1L5P-iQE50KdFEVILMCdfDRrWSgLHv7vCC6XAGBNZPRd0vcw2Q/s400/baikonur05.jpg" border="0" />The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part7<br />Cosmonaut Salizhan S. Sharipov, Russia's Federal Space Agency Expedition 10 flight engineer and Soyuz commander, donned his launch and entry suit and climbed aboard the Soyuz TMA-5 spacecraft October 5, 2004, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a dress rehearsal of launch day activities leading to their liftoff October 14 to the International Space Station. (NASA/Bill Ingall)<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250361668368078098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBDzSnOC0G3F6_4xfI38mR1fqrp6yZdxuLHqCr8a8jFO8vpfYCa4JbUfcORPerFU26oSoeJuIBwMHlc6EB6TWoVhTCOZj3y0ueQ6DV_YF4S51ESChou9tji6lqS395pSiVHFxpz8zisE/s400/baikonur06.jpg" border="0" />The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part8 </p><p>Astronaut Leroy Chiao (r), Expedition 10 commander cosmonaut Salizhan S. Sharipov (c), and Russian Space Forces cosmonaut Yuri Shargin (l) donned their launch and entry suits and climbed aboard the Soyuz TMA-5 spacecraft October 5, 2004, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a dress rehearsal of launch day activities leading to their liftoff October 14 to the ISS. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtPs1KcX6jIPP1SXx5AKe2dPSF_KBEwHEb4ilsSlDCFnoj1aDkSfWSVP1q3Ke5vQ9WMdt6AYwGgwV99YyZGBnDGNmDYkjw4E94lOFMi2Y7Kgy3DL1wJaSKnBFYT7zVY7whknL0puwsJk/s1600-h/baikonur07.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250361669638732050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtPs1KcX6jIPP1SXx5AKe2dPSF_KBEwHEb4ilsSlDCFnoj1aDkSfWSVP1q3Ke5vQ9WMdt6AYwGgwV99YyZGBnDGNmDYkjw4E94lOFMi2Y7Kgy3DL1wJaSKnBFYT7zVY7whknL0puwsJk/s400/baikonur07.jpg" border="0" /></a> The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part9<br />At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 17 Commander Sergei Volkov (center), Flight Engineer Oleg Kononenko (right) and South Korean spaceflight participant So-yeon Yi bid farewell to well wishers April 8, 2008 prior to heading to the launch pad for their liftoff on the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft to the International Space Station. (NASA /Victor Zelentsov)<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250356819733987730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1u_jpwuqmRJTf4ZswXa7ed-OSqKZBhOpgeJnnjPAmPTlIuKxly4RdMjq4L_NTE_zKkXEWH6RD9rRQwwHGdKWf3FTuEugvW7C3Fceu7zOZDs9-K-7ATuubzBxKJcA7vyW56dk0FaEosFE/s400/baikonur08.jpg" border="0" />The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part10</p><p>Railroad tracks lead to the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad. Soyuz TMA-8 spacecraft and its booster were rolled out on March 28, 2006, for final pre-launch preparations. The Soyuz was set to blast off on March 30, 2006, (NASA/Bill Ingalls)<br /> </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250356817370702258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYc_ZojGC0pdgn6XD5V-fDrSKCO41eqoJG3mLdSVp_2lUaWzT36k_0dl1DYe-HLhjO3zrGg9HMVY9ZPFn1pmBrITgCOV4YLdQDiG6BhCcrmyJrMoSfArxrZgaWOnY_MT2YzQhWcZ6deI/s400/baikonur09.jpg" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuGPuX0AXbbXKfdXzqlCj-4V64JSPmIWy8br_WHIfyBizLxh0NYSbqcfR8ZYHhDZ7Nsk8tH4KWvdvDl1k8emKi4WuozLv56R-vb5oe5mTTsNrARqaVoA1HIBexCouCQLf5XvZ6Chsi38/s1600-h/baikonur03.jpg"></a>The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part11</p><p>The Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft is rolled to its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan April 6, 2008 in preparation for launch April 8 to carry new residents and a spaceflight participant to the International Space Station. The Soyuz began the move from its assembly and integration building to the launch pad on a railcar at sunrise, arriving at the pad several hours later for final technical preparations. (NASA /Victor Zelentsov)<br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250356808318980834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidovkiWIOnTXHczDwFucsG4vb5686Tnh82RGQE7eTIdS7ZSR4ALSRV0frYITGigh4rBNtywIq3MRAALGAzGf1tZI59NMl4Yirv2I7wlQz1owwiuQrosnF4w3Gx5RENgHTG3sZrsKI3fNk/s400/baikonur10.jpg" border="0" />The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part12</p><p>With a mockup of the defunct Russian "Buran" Space Shuttle sitting passively nearby (lower right), the Soyuz TMA-3 spacecraft and its booster rocket crawl on a rail car to the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan October 16, 2003, in preparation for its liftoff October 18 to carry three astronauts to the International Space Station. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwE3fQbxVSTFQzVis2TugndnQMaiERe4HGR8OFJ5Op7tbr5cTDuxDRdCCuPBs2k-lYZvTFN0_Cf_HfXtw-qWNnTJg1NYUiy9NROPa32Ss3wpnj9-4gcVTKctpEOBulNoHpISSI22HF4FA/s1600-h/baikonur11.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250356795086468866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwE3fQbxVSTFQzVis2TugndnQMaiERe4HGR8OFJ5Op7tbr5cTDuxDRdCCuPBs2k-lYZvTFN0_Cf_HfXtw-qWNnTJg1NYUiy9NROPa32Ss3wpnj9-4gcVTKctpEOBulNoHpISSI22HF4FA/s400/baikonur11.jpg" border="0" /></a> The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part13<br />Baikonur hosts both manned and unmanned launches. Here is shown a Russian Proton-M rocket carrying a Canadian communication Nimiq 4 satellite being transported to a launching pad of the Baikonur Cosmodrome on September 15, 2008. The Proton-M will carry the satelite into geostationary orbit on September 18, 2008. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250353116705672226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaS8jRp8R6ycXfG7b8pCleX0vlZiJs9N1UwLi7-tnENhgiS564Ppbk4BGb2C_SMgrNPecYC1PJ7ijcnHHURvKUfRsb3peSWOruZ-3Va7128I0zMKFb1fJNKC6qPX3Scuk4zoJG2cSW90U/s400/baikonur12.jpg" border="0" /> The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part14</p><p>Spectators try to grab the highest viewing point to watch the launch of the Soyuz TMA-8 spacecraft, carrying Expedition 13 crew members to the International Space Station on March 30, 2006. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGrGJvoAdk3KFVd1u3-okekll2jY1nm3JI7wn7MX1w6XXohudt3EuGi9KuPjeA6jSw2O7syjto3QYt6E-HfLBwwHlD8vXkqAJ0eUZn0NFIj6T8f65ldminDtYcHY9Lg6m1tIdUlrygQ8/s1600-h/baikonur07.jpg"></a></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250353118092780354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpd6t5XpoN2RteGHW2P_rARm38RGBYaibRdfLcz1MTQ__xYrGQs6Mb4cPPzifNW5bXnQmwFVUPe9_MnUhIm2PEIPUXczI_6ltJTwZyxnTmhxtJ3fEHymC9pl81ugmJA0w3wkK1EtP9ihk/s400/baikonur13.jpg" border="0" />The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part15 </p><p>Preparations are underway for liftoff of the Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft as the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle with the Soyuz spacecraft is installed on the launch system and the transporter-emplacer arm moves away, October 8, 2007 (NASA/Bill Ingalls)</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250353117948599442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPSV1DWyfbIjmtjjlRlFxFPfmoZ5sF9Ew7XXIuEG9t4LUwhSVbxDeL8VubCXqw2czET8VilxwYpJgETfvYU5qDUNUnGZJf7Q1Keebvx76ebAccmuD3f2AadwxRW60B7TJMY_ilbAcETI/s400/baikonur14.jpg" border="0" /><br />The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part16</p><p>A Soyuz spacecraft lifts off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, at 10:54 p.m. (CDT) on April 26, 2003. Onboard were cosmonaut Yuri I. Malenchenko, Expedition Seven mission commander, and astronaut Edward T. Lu, NASA ISS science officer and flight engineer. Malenchenko represents Rosaviakosmos. (NASA/Scott Andrews)</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutRpv83PcR8CI45HQlW_r-tn_LI8shUDSB5RH7LIg6csHLsTgyL-BskaB9BsLgvsS9S5juEEaNIg3TBzD2fdJlSi6ZRnrR0NPA4TeCroJOlhR0yhGtjQzpq6e0adCXlCmXol7Zc9Cw9Y/s1600-h/baikonur15.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250353114001012786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutRpv83PcR8CI45HQlW_r-tn_LI8shUDSB5RH7LIg6csHLsTgyL-BskaB9BsLgvsS9S5juEEaNIg3TBzD2fdJlSi6ZRnrR0NPA4TeCroJOlhR0yhGtjQzpq6e0adCXlCmXol7Zc9Cw9Y/s400/baikonur15.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /> The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part17<br /><br /> The Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft seen high overhead as it blasts off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at daybreak on April 15, 2005 (Kazakhstan time), carrying three astronauts to the ISS. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZXLrSTsb0rNPVEk2tQFAfmO0wpvzUY_OxsyzxVg1kpMp_AJxboSLnq89EvHLFcAGL1zCfZGpzpkMeojJdWyD8hyXE7k3N1wqIfwZRBHFDJTVECB-O_YPvmGVtmNFqC1TxzSZ-JOb6ng/s1600-h/baikonur16.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250349434893693090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZXLrSTsb0rNPVEk2tQFAfmO0wpvzUY_OxsyzxVg1kpMp_AJxboSLnq89EvHLFcAGL1zCfZGpzpkMeojJdWyD8hyXE7k3N1wqIfwZRBHFDJTVECB-O_YPvmGVtmNFqC1TxzSZ-JOb6ng/s400/baikonur16.jpg" border="0" /></a> The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part18 </div><div>Backdropped by a cloud-covered Earth, the Soyuz 14 (TMA-10) spacecraft approaches the International Space Station. Onboard the spacecraft are cosmonauts Fyodor N. Yurchikhin, Expedition 15 commander; and Oleg V. Kotov, Soyuz commander and flight engineer, both representing Russia's Federal Space Agency; along with spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi. With Kotov at the controls, the Soyuz linked up to the ISS on April 9, 2007<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmYfLKW24x4kEeTs3l1xkq9PWFYXHljDRKtNe9yEyZV2kQpOmYmmdtP0YbeJOhaVg5NvlTSTDOVQIP9QkJH994IIFR403jyvMHY1JEk29fHFkGqfvzNnPV3yVFtDdkMfKLRagcNMQiu4/s1600-h/baikonur15.jpg"></a> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250348606006522306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwLot6s7_MKJh4KsjNnJW35usMvfjNX2Z3Ya5rqiy28mYZkJ4SOVEs16lJmWp-aW96vjRk6vofKc4vuCSop7P9_XIvSz4s-jxBG7WzNFRfpnTpUEOgfeqHmjhYAqZzs0iN519eivi-KM/s400/baikonur17.jpg" border="0" /> The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part19<br />The flags of Malaysia, Russia and the United States sit between the phones used by officials to talk to the crew of the International Space Station in the Russian Mission Control Center in Korolev, outside Moscow, seen on October 12, 2007. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkNgPuQ4CR8gNpUdgUnedJzVcfSIYhepE3JOGIB2CiwKMC1U3-guOQGHTBB_IGHMXlpxZZvYXwt928X5VO58MLGtsK1oCd5pXnE9YeQgLLNA2wBGml9fxou4hLq-l9QEcoM-kMhqv__M/s1600-h/baikonur14.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKollDIyyxGlnpa89GGYXh6eG-aT7mKgrjw7z3hceYgA4F9tU_F5GpvLQq0b9n4WBXPx7whlVSRamcuyyElUvw2GZqb2TX2LtT4G_SyWTd2ye9J4PjcTYomPw4YDktgGAeLt4S_zS6Gd4/s1600-h/baikonur13.jpg"></a><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250348600164545298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvifoTeuWBH1M2gFbOaCXPFkifFJGhGg-6roLP4XOtxLH8Y8UDvKMG4eIRINXlTXAhJug75OCgR_XepE_lkUtA_U8dRvntsYQ4Em-FWJSy6-K3-4X39kAMOzOMcJG9BhmmPaxuPU3f4ks/s400/baikonur18.jpg" border="0" />The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part20</p><p>Seen in front of the Earth's horizon and the blackness of space, the Soyuz TMA-9 spacecraft approaches the International Space Station. Onboard the spacecraft are astronaut Michael E. Lopez-Alegria, Expedition 14 commander and NASA space station science officer; cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin, Soyuz commander and flight engineer representing Russia's Federal Space Agency; and spaceflight participant Anousheh Ansari. The Soyuz linked up to the Zvezda Service Module aft port at on Sept. 20, 2006.(NASA)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6c_PfebLK4Teyd2SDVZ0nXpHo7yyba0vEt0RkqHhGI5FGPBOQYw5Py_M6YCQ67t4i48TzKH81LxaCsWma_pGVgoyJQ6V5Kog20q84sSww97YO9e8tUNFGsrlyBZH7ZwxS9hCuZ40UsO4/s1600-h/baikonur12.jpg"></a> </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250348591617008370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7jGCmjdyuWs5uWoaQRQFv7lRGgq4LIjfCAPKsxXwZ5W_a3CDKYuDIOZkYzJIBvVd6ctmyf0ibzsQXM1lmHQWl25hOPo5Jl_mj0-CLXZI3LMZyH9MKkrbJDn5BpDUeRI-yOd35ifce4w/s400/baikonur20.jpg" border="0" />The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part21</p><p>Backdropped against the blackness of space and airglow of Earth's horizon, an unpiloted Progress supply vehicle approaches the International Space Station (ISS). The Progress 15 resupply craft launched August 11, 2004 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to deliver almost three tons of food, fuel, oxygen, water and supplies to the Expedition 9 crewmembers onboard the Station. (NASA)<br /><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250348585766422594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3O93GMC1dVupfVaXY5Gy4gwbHhafIycAm8m9otfzbkOVv4PvvALmzCBrV74OFacwKI8JYEMZ2WHoX_QQu93vsQi2UC3zg3f3DGtRkx-cpbyq6FGxyjV7h4TG2ELmYXC521BpLYD97R4/s400/baikonur21.jpg" border="0" /><br />The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part22</p><p>The Baikonur launch complex, seen directly in a photograph taken by an Expedition 13 crew member aboard the International Space Station on September 9, 2006. The name Baikonur is Kazakh for "wealthy brown," i.e. "fertile land with many herbs." (NASA)<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfa_JpH8f5EuSLI33GhApCFp44hDPg19DeIk7q958Nz8-DaUn3B0lWzc5Ck2IaCDVlhozoJlerO07tz53-2t-HwXhCTUB9ZCEqI9B5lGwpLEY27Gpvwa8xKhQtZn8asmI9W6chm7cORn0/s1600-h/baikonur22.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250348574588640210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfa_JpH8f5EuSLI33GhApCFp44hDPg19DeIk7q958Nz8-DaUn3B0lWzc5Ck2IaCDVlhozoJlerO07tz53-2t-HwXhCTUB9ZCEqI9B5lGwpLEY27Gpvwa8xKhQtZn8asmI9W6chm7cORn0/s400/baikonur22.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /> The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part23<br />A Kazakh farmer herds cattle across the tarmac on April 19, 2008, at the Arkalyk airport in Kazakhstan. Arkalyk is used as one of the helicopter staging areas for the landing of the Soyuz spacecraft, as they parachute back to Earth. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250346886310581058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVtG839zaa89UdOXrpJEc3NcaE-wNgaeYBUsjs0FAZMJy82O3PGqU1vYNP0_prVHXe8zRMapQf7OZWuA_NMzweKIagHSlvay5TBSiWNu_TxxajqJpe8Fw5HUB-J2IvPXZa2OKrsBCrCI/s400/baikonur23.jpg" border="0" /> The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part23 </p><p>The city of Baikonur, Kazakhstan, is seen from the aircraft carrying Expedition 10 crew members on October 4, 2004. The crew will prepare for their launch on the Soyuz TMA-5 spacecraft October 14, 2004, to the ISS. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250346883553259842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimc_RI_FMSHTDkfeYSsoFExk2vCfljYJu6C2ValIlkS_DjfU7gWy6HKO7PFH8dwg0zLIHg_pfmeKJyY-Ng3qCGgYkYzjnAKWYLzgRlVPN8cS2sw-0goYyj7v-R7u-4x8PgLq81Ax3sCLc/s400/baikonur24.jpg" border="0" /><br />The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part24</p><p>A series of three photographs shows the Soyuz TMA-9 spacecraft floating to a landing southwest of Karaganda, Kazakhstan at approximately 6:30 p.m. local time on April 21, 2007. Onboard were astronaut Michael E. Lopez-Alegria, Expedition 14 commander and NASA space station science officer; cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin, Soyuz commander and flight engineer representing Russia's Federal Space Agency; and U.S. spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi. (NASA)<br /> </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250346881623149890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7kyeHERNTb14CjIiGhdSQroKWRcT9RZFpSgjHihBYD3UBFDmvQvDnjRtU7zAbmWynK-NaYpMYpCMn_cWHym-BpCZd5u0eQDFuoCT8Jff6yyu2OR-lizNWEtzgBZchipr0RIBMAIvCpA/s400/baikonur25.jpg" border="0" />The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part25</p><p>Technicians begin the process of removing cargo from the Soyuz TMA-7 capsule (blackened from the heat of re-entry) at sunrise on the steppes of Kazakhstan on April 9, 2006, following the pre-dawn landing of three ISS Expedition 12 crew members. (NASA)<br /><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250346875641944690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNYkWG_-2Usxk_knvLlpaa8EyZjDZmjbAYExU9ke6cOIuUQYXjYEIekVtPtKlbZtQF5h8uPsAf7aFtisnK6TFMa0kuWsEJpaFDgL_vwd3JfgjdePkvgurzkQ_qeabNBT35PRhjM3STaM/s400/baikonur26.jpg" border="0" /><br />The Baikonur Cosmodrome - part26</p><p>Expedition 13 crewmembers - cosmonaut Pavel V. Vinogradov (center), commander, and astronaut Jeffrey N. Williams (right), flight engineer and NASA ISS science officer - along with spaceflight participant Anousheh Ansari are attended to by Russian and American search and recovery teams on the steppe of central Kazakhstan on Sept. 29, 2006 following their landing in the Soyuz TMA-8 spacecraft after undocking earlier in the day from the International Space Station. (NASA)<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rtL4Q-2RtfnC1FYWsvbH_hutXqvkAd-ae2nj29WOKEcYTJbGtIuMR0PUgKeEA9asmyL4-OUQFK38tl0d6_8t1UU2a3eUwVOZQYYneGtrwqqPX1ooXtdwpwuM6DDHGTDB7op5CGxWsqs/s1600-h/baikonur27.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250346877555759698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rtL4Q-2RtfnC1FYWsvbH_hutXqvkAd-ae2nj29WOKEcYTJbGtIuMR0PUgKeEA9asmyL4-OUQFK38tl0d6_8t1UU2a3eUwVOZQYYneGtrwqqPX1ooXtdwpwuM6DDHGTDB7op5CGxWsqs/s400/baikonur27.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01924263999017748089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914027483132754571.post-37174077370530707692008-09-24T05:03:00.000-07:002008-09-24T05:23:43.025-07:00BMW 2015 Concept by Transportation Design students<div>BMW 2015 - The final projects of the Transportation Design students at Turin-based IED (istituto Europeo di Design) - part1</div><br /><br /><div>The final projects of the Transportation Design students at <a href="http://www.ied.edu/Portfolio/News/Turin/read-news.html?docId=eng_%7B0058B301-3453-DD11-8B3C-00145E690974%7D">Turin-based IED (istituto Europeo di Design)</a>, developed in partnership with BMW with the goal of creating a car for 2015 interpreting the language evolution and the brand's philosophy. The image is the BMW ZX-6 Concept by Jai Ho Yoo and Lukas Vanek. The 8 final 1:4 scale models will be displayed at the Istituto Europeo di Design, in Via S. Quintino 39, Turin.</div><br /><br /><div>BMW 2015 - The final projects of the Transportation Design students at Turin-based IED (istituto Europeo di Design) - part2<br /></div><div></div><br /><br /><div>Projects development<br />During the first phase of the project students were involved in the research of a product and a style projected towards the future, for their subsequent application to actual scenarios of a close tomorrow. </div><br /><br /><div>BMW 2015 - The final projects of the Transportation Design students at Turin-based IED (istituto Europeo di Design) - part3</div><br /><br /><div>Initially, students’ concept work focused on individuating wishes, needs, tastes and life style of an individual (man or woman) meant to turn 35 years old in 2025.<br />As to shapes development, they were asked to find an inspiration source looking both into natural elements like the sun, the sea, the wind or the earth and in forms of expression such as music, painting or arts in general. </div><br /><br /><div>BMW 2015 - The final projects of the Transportation Design students at Turin-based IED (istituto Europeo di Design) - part4</div><br /><div><br />For the second phase of the project, young car designers had to use the project essence and formal language individuated in the previous stage to develop both the interior and exterior of an actual car suitable to fit in an hypothetical 2015 life context and able to generate emotions while also identifying the BMW profile.</div><br /><br /><div>BMW 2015 - The final projects of the Transportation Design students at Turin-based IED (istituto Europeo di Design) - part5</div><br /><br /><div>Students were also followed throughout the internal stages of project development by a BMW Commission including Thomas Plath, Director Model Techniques and Process Management, and Anders Warming, BMW Exterior Design Director, under the supervision of Chris Bangle, Chief of Design for BMW Group.<br /></div><div></div><br /><br /><div>BMW 2015 - The final projects of the Transportation Design students at Turin-based IED (istituto Europeo di Design) - part6<br /></div><div></div><br /><br /><div>The proposals elaborated by all student teams were later evaluated with the selection of 12, out of which 8 were developed in 1:4 models, in collaboration with Cecomp, and the remaining 4 turned into virtual models.<br /><br /><br /></div><div>BMW 2015 - The final projects of the Transportation Design students at Turin-based IED (istituto Europeo di Design) - part7</div><br /><br /><div>Projects particularly appreciated by the commission included: “Africa. decompose concept.” by Raphael Laurent and Mihaï Panaîtescu and “Snug” by David Raffai, Kevin Schlaepfer, Andrea Torchia and Alberto Usai.</div><br /><br /><div>BMW 2015 - The final projects of the Transportation Design students at Turin-based IED (istituto Europeo di Design) - part8</div><br /><br /><div>AFRICA - decompose Concept<br /><a href="http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/2008/07/25-bmw-2015-concept-ied-turin/BMW-Africa-Concept-3-lg.jpg" target="_blank"></a>Authors: Raphael Laurent and Mihai Panaitescu<br />Project Concept<br />Taking inspiration from African lifestyle, tradition and art; searching for unique ways of thinking, different from modern ones and creating culture design.<br />Designing a car for future Africans gives the possibility to rethink vehicles that really fit their owners, through aesthetics, mentality and way of use.<br />The vehicle deconstructs itself in order to fit different daily needs. The design language is developed as to facilitate the concept, taking in account the African culture and artistic expression. </div><br /><br /><div>BMW 2015 - The final projects of the Transportation Design students at Turin-based IED (istituto Europeo di Design) - part9</div><br /><br /><div>SNUG Concept<br /><a href="http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/2008/07/25-bmw-2015-concept-ied-turin/BMW-SNUG-Concept-1-lg.jpg" target="_blank"></a>Authors: David Raffai, Kevin Schlaepfer, Andrea Torchia and Alberto Usai<br />Project Concept:<br />"In the future metropolis, which will be more and more chaotic, confusing, grey and polluted, we risk becoming automatons, slaves to money and personal success: not accepting the intrinsic naturalism of the human being; ready, instead, for selection and competition, forgetting about individual diversity and the respect of pure ideas, which separate us from cold, mechanic industrialization.<br />"Escape, via art, from the objective conception of things, choosing instead authentic, non-contaminated expression."<br />SNUG is a concept which aims to create a sense of community: a simple, fun object, designed for people who appreciate personal relationships, people who are different from the others, in their opinions and in their feelings. </div><div> </div><div> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCUTRPFq8Km8QgQ4KXKEaGwUxtFQhOWEDKdYLKx1y-EYaYocOF-e-GqOCC0Isk64BuI0rxBbxHxxZc07sKa45mqvR8KgiId-RDcJKjioXTAbRg69LQZaOtuhr2vr77MSE8_1NdrtQuE4/s1600-h/BMW-2015-Concept------.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249561758215859810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCUTRPFq8Km8QgQ4KXKEaGwUxtFQhOWEDKdYLKx1y-EYaYocOF-e-GqOCC0Isk64BuI0rxBbxHxxZc07sKa45mqvR8KgiId-RDcJKjioXTAbRg69LQZaOtuhr2vr77MSE8_1NdrtQuE4/s400/BMW-2015-Concept------.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4W1Ogb_wXAunBYki7wDC7dtlytR9DG3Vp65cL55z461YVdHtxxz5b1_bFq9z1V_F0VpUJe8GZdqgpEL-AwvL9B_aRT1WJcIgkby-8iNJXoN-AjlrsiTBWkQwmcK8Mg0hkGU0PDGEDSPA/s1600-h/BMW-2015-Concept-------.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249561767505682674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4W1Ogb_wXAunBYki7wDC7dtlytR9DG3Vp65cL55z461YVdHtxxz5b1_bFq9z1V_F0VpUJe8GZdqgpEL-AwvL9B_aRT1WJcIgkby-8iNJXoN-AjlrsiTBWkQwmcK8Mg0hkGU0PDGEDSPA/s400/BMW-2015-Concept-------.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45bmfkfuZ55gvKeI9FuBEzMedCvjuLe6cQ8q-OsqQDevWgQL19SxtmMVJWwCkMuKkr8es6-7VhOstn1zJ0f-af_GQKuB-ODDicsDD-naP-v5Q4B5XbncbuvNy9StnpK0h5KT-2wz3XH4/s1600-h/BMW-2015-Concept.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249561299146041362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45bmfkfuZ55gvKeI9FuBEzMedCvjuLe6cQ8q-OsqQDevWgQL19SxtmMVJWwCkMuKkr8es6-7VhOstn1zJ0f-af_GQKuB-ODDicsDD-naP-v5Q4B5XbncbuvNy9StnpK0h5KT-2wz3XH4/s400/BMW-2015-Concept.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhUnb3zcXjODKpN_oOeLJ5bmvGRNtgtqutKDaBSDp52KerZzz-8uIM4HRBB3gdU73qVaQES9KNwtmjibCF0y_3ZwV_ntPkY9URyhYT5Q2UqzlHipic9u05Skj6_a9vpD_wVoitCOKhcA/s1600-h/BMW-2015-Concept-.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249561303131297074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhUnb3zcXjODKpN_oOeLJ5bmvGRNtgtqutKDaBSDp52KerZzz-8uIM4HRBB3gdU73qVaQES9KNwtmjibCF0y_3ZwV_ntPkY9URyhYT5Q2UqzlHipic9u05Skj6_a9vpD_wVoitCOKhcA/s400/BMW-2015-Concept-.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6feJIaz4uf_Ou1C7BscjrktQu4taQNVbxgiYNA68CtoXlVHsu8JcvUXAh169qjZDcVaisodHJA3ynKNI-pt0-JUieu9HOKrVWGO1YKy0oMHUBfwoacA3VzyM1VxbxPe9YE_dUrj0RTJc/s1600-h/BMW-2015-Concept---.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249561309773855954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6feJIaz4uf_Ou1C7BscjrktQu4taQNVbxgiYNA68CtoXlVHsu8JcvUXAh169qjZDcVaisodHJA3ynKNI-pt0-JUieu9HOKrVWGO1YKy0oMHUBfwoacA3VzyM1VxbxPe9YE_dUrj0RTJc/s400/BMW-2015-Concept---.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjUTrHvy6pTO5N4FkVE00KUQAbB-Zq_JmNAIJ55cOq9zSlr2qHOtIjahsVdQ95e0fGaMkDePE4IYbiShNvGJcNYWcpFyqzInEGgqBZuGd1xHFB52ysavuHFSge1ALiJF5ogrM6T1cNBk/s1600-h/BMW-2015-Concept----.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249561312045809346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjUTrHvy6pTO5N4FkVE00KUQAbB-Zq_JmNAIJ55cOq9zSlr2qHOtIjahsVdQ95e0fGaMkDePE4IYbiShNvGJcNYWcpFyqzInEGgqBZuGd1xHFB52ysavuHFSge1ALiJF5ogrM6T1cNBk/s400/BMW-2015-Concept----.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcC1p56IAkKWevNxivp4MO11Uy9xW8TJh5T0EW_ytKH8qSbVfD7KCR8tA_B1klaBei-0byQ5HpY-0ToTY4Tt_2eKOI3XHTyLd5jUBnCCCYt16ObmiLCe2jJMm3DpCpW1cWOiPZpeZLS1M/s1600-h/BMW-2015-Concept-----.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249561322697470514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcC1p56IAkKWevNxivp4MO11Uy9xW8TJh5T0EW_ytKH8qSbVfD7KCR8tA_B1klaBei-0byQ5HpY-0ToTY4Tt_2eKOI3XHTyLd5jUBnCCCYt16ObmiLCe2jJMm3DpCpW1cWOiPZpeZLS1M/s400/BMW-2015-Concept-----.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div> </div></div>Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01924263999017748089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914027483132754571.post-57463367710198011502008-09-19T04:06:00.001-07:002008-09-20T04:05:41.658-07:00The End of the World - Next Week’s Particle Collision Test Delayed<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPrcBb1julSwLtBX0xahgiRaZDTfO7j-s5rqUNF7Tq8CPjxZY_5KBf6Adi3kA0iRR7MivNLmI4fdC4JbFMxOaF2sR5Wcdf7BYZcBvqEm0POw3x16lxe6usAUNybMmuRshyphenhyphen3UyK6yM9-E/s1600-h/lhc_screen_270x150.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248057959332642786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPrcBb1julSwLtBX0xahgiRaZDTfO7j-s5rqUNF7Tq8CPjxZY_5KBf6Adi3kA0iRR7MivNLmI4fdC4JbFMxOaF2sR5Wcdf7BYZcBvqEm0POw3x16lxe6usAUNybMmuRshyphenhyphen3UyK6yM9-E/s400/lhc_screen_270x150.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The End of the World part1</div><br /><div>Those unneccesarily worried about the world’s end next week when the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) was scheduled to begin smashing its first particles will be delighted to know that the test has been postponed after a significant fault was detected on Friday. A technician found that one of the accelerator’s superconducting magnets was out-of-sync during routine testing.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The End of the World part2<br />This is of concern because the supercooled helium that chills the LHC’s magnets to 1.8 degrees centigrade above absolute zero was released into the accelerator’s 17-mile tunnel in the incident. Engineers were still investigating the extent of the problem Friday afternoon, and CERN officials could not say how long it would take to fix it or how long of a delay this will cause in the proposed atom smash.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The End of the World part3<br />“It certainly means we will not have collisions on Monday,” stated James Gillies, CERN’s chief of communications. “We are now looking at the middle of next week at the earliest.”</div>Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01924263999017748089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914027483132754571.post-69467894819201059872008-09-19T04:06:00.000-07:002008-09-19T04:15:31.227-07:00Canon EOS 5D Mark II DSLR camera shoots pro stills, 1080p video<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbKILNWoMS5vmZVBKidshWBTy8G_PczqZqas2F93JS6Guzuo5oin-xR4L-uUHraimSwqggZhWsLy1CQcqdGlhnseW8HCJm-6r-Wxs_puE8eLmFQFs4Puy01oJfm8glGn_TBzwMxdQ3yU/s1600-h/canon_eos5d_2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247688107219875490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbKILNWoMS5vmZVBKidshWBTy8G_PczqZqas2F93JS6Guzuo5oin-xR4L-uUHraimSwqggZhWsLy1CQcqdGlhnseW8HCJm-6r-Wxs_puE8eLmFQFs4Puy01oJfm8glGn_TBzwMxdQ3yU/s400/canon_eos5d_2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Canon EOS 5D Mark II </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Canon just rolled out a monster DSLR camera – the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. Yes, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II is not going to be cheap when it's available in November ($2700 for the body, lenses extra), but for that wad of cash the Canon EOS 5D Mark II brings along a professional feature set that's never been seen before. Besides Canon EOS 5D Mark II hot shooting capabilities, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II is the first digital SLR to let you shoot 1080p video at 30 frames per second, and like this the Canon EOS 5D Mark II is nearly matching the crispy-clean picture quality of Blu-ray discs, and so the Canon EOS 5D Mark II is slam-dunking the Nikon D90 DSLR's measly 720p HD video shooting. </div><div><br />The Canon EOS 5D Mark II associated numbers are astonishing. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II has a 21.1-megapixel low-noise sensor, and low-light performance that lets you shoot in near-darkness with a 6400 native ISO. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II beats the Nikon D300, D3 and D700's super-clean 3200 ISO capability that's already impressing for low-light shooting situations. Of course, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II has Live View, letting you use the Canon EOS 5D Mark II 3-inch viewscreen to frame up your shots, and the pros will especially like the Canon EOS 5D Mark II huge, full-frame sensor. </div><div></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247688110909744834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYk0E2uBRlHmoUgBdzeFkE-_y3j_ciZbzGRAH0bosdscrw0iUgLZKl4YYj1PGWunnAsKPbgqMNgSNV7Sw2EhOh7JeHcjaq8APJCmTxkk-7_-Ugd95FBi2Zmat0fDQzsoUd7WG673eljE/s400/canon_eos5d_1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247688108205064098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZSvpjYWw__NYRL_MNQJJAD-LtFfOLsnoYCSj9Z-L9APOGX0yfBYpJEXV1H1kE8tCLjxO774GMqaR-LYdqkT3M6gS892wzCouTdq-qdXO35pLGyQxv5Vm-fOEdiJJ6klpsn8nFu2StbM/s400/canon_eos5d_front.jpg" border="0" />Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01924263999017748089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914027483132754571.post-9149527598267175792008-09-18T00:32:00.001-07:002008-09-18T01:37:27.453-07:00The City of Ember<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQcM1YPmmiAMT3itN6nqxgC34Ev9ggzgyqHVRkir0zSggFGlMOdPq_5NAYRqB0cDW6tOVzmaRjs0h1zjk9RRR7_zn-kF3h2uL8R-vSENWSsO4Se3hfiMB3KqyQyK7P2BGjCYaXZfdvEU/s1600-h/cityofember.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247277589888487154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQcM1YPmmiAMT3itN6nqxgC34Ev9ggzgyqHVRkir0zSggFGlMOdPq_5NAYRqB0cDW6tOVzmaRjs0h1zjk9RRR7_zn-kF3h2uL8R-vSENWSsO4Se3hfiMB3KqyQyK7P2BGjCYaXZfdvEU/s400/cityofember.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The City of Ember - review - Part1:<br />Coming in October is another movie adaptation of a children’s book - The City of Ember. The premise of The City of Ember is made of the great stuff - in The City of Ember, mankind has lost the ability to live on the surface of Earth, and so in the movie The City of Ember, mankind has constructed a city (Ember); The City of Ember is miles underground for mankind’s survivors. Only catch? The City of Ember only lasts 200 years. When the time is up, presumably, the planet will be ready for humans again so The City of Ember is not needed anymore.<br /><br />The City of Ember - review - part2:<br />Featuring a pretty good cast for The City of Ember, including Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, and Martin Landau (amongst others), this City of Emberlooks like a great movie for the scifi-minded children. The City of Ember might be just the movie to capture the imagination for kids of many ages. I’m keeping my fingers crossed this The City of Ember earns a PG rating to ensure that even the young ones can give it a shot - and of course I hope many parents will encourage their children to read the book The City of Ember before going to see the movie.</div>Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01924263999017748089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914027483132754571.post-49412806058487163092008-09-18T00:32:00.000-07:002008-09-18T01:39:30.064-07:00Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YuTDyRcTmbDU9JNv2z_pmemtpUCnJOMkaYlyNuJCVWohJ7cJd6p6p2w9o-JQNPC8cDEFUk5d_Z8_6WTEel1epx_fo2AIKPFs9K3QaWw6wnKi447wDRURUPxKw81GQq70irnb8GZjIic/s1600-h/nextavengers-dvdcovr.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247272543353893266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YuTDyRcTmbDU9JNv2z_pmemtpUCnJOMkaYlyNuJCVWohJ7cJd6p6p2w9o-JQNPC8cDEFUk5d_Z8_6WTEel1epx_fo2AIKPFs9K3QaWw6wnKi447wDRURUPxKw81GQq70irnb8GZjIic/s400/nextavengers-dvdcovr.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow - review - Part1:<br /><br /><div>Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow opens with the information: Whenever the forces of evil threatened mankind, Earth’s mightiest heroes known as the Avengers, could be counted on to stop them and make all right again. But at the beginning of Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow the combined force of these great warriors of humanity would make the ultimate sacrifice in a failed attempt to stop their most fearsome enemy yet — Ultron, the indestructible robot. So in Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow all but Thor and Iron Man would pay the price of death. Thor had already retreated to the home of the gods before the advent of Ultron, and Iron Man, a.k.a. Tony Stark, was commissioned by the rest of the Avengers to care for their young babies and to keep them safe and hidden from Ultron and its beastly machines. This how Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow starts.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow - review - Part2:<br />Than Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow presents teenagers and hidden in safety at an undisclosed and unknown location deep in Antarctica, and as suspected from the title of Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, the next generation of Avengers are called upon after one of them accidentally releases large robotic copies of their parents. Than in Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, taken control by Ultron, these robotic copycats turn on the children of their original models. Now James, leader of Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, the son of Captain America and and the second memeber of Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, Black Widow, Torunn (Torilnn), the daughter of Thor, and the third memeber Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, Azari, son of Black Panther and the forthe meber of Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, Pym, the youngest of the group and the son of Giant Man and Wasp, all memebers of Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow join forces with Hawkeye, the abandoned child of the Avenging Archer. Together, forming the Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, they try to free Tony Stark who has been captured by Ultron, and with the help of one Avenger in hiding, The Hulk, the children, the Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, soon become a force to be reckoned with and a new age of Avengers in born, to make a name for themselves: Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow - review - Part3:<br />In the movie Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, there are many interesting sub-plots to this Marvel animated film. The most enlightening sub-plots fo Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow being how Ultron came into existence, why Bruce Banner (The Hulk) remained in hiding all these years when it was well within his power to stop Ultron before the robot became as powerful as he now is, and and also in Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow we find out exactly what the reason was for Thor not coming to the aid of his daughter and the other Avengers offspring.<br />The action of Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow is engaging enough to keep children and adults alike interested enough to keep holding out hope for the good guys. Except for a few annoying moments from Pym, in Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow each character becomes acceptable as a true inheritor of their parent’s great calling of keeping the Earth safe, under the name of Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow - review - Part4:<br />Stan Lee is on hand to ensure continuity of Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow as the film’s co-executive producer. Also lending support for that same continuity of Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow was having Tom Kane performing the voice over work for Iron Man/Tony Stark. Kane is a giant in the voice acting busines having done a part from Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow a major part of the voices for many of the Star Wars animated sagas and games as well as other films such as the animated Dracula franchise, X-Men video games and the highly successful “Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings videogame, starring as Gandalf. Having him onboard for this Next Avenger animated series that starts with Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, it was a real plus.</div></div>Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01924263999017748089noreply@blogger.com0