Answerman
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Answerman: Tactical Answering Action
Hi there,
I'm not sure if you can help me since this is pretty obscure but it wouldn't hurt to try ne?? Ok I'm trying to hunt down the ever elusive Tokyo Babylon Music Video but with little sucess. I was wondering if you can verify this little bit of info I got. The MV was released with the first OVA in VHS and LD. Is that right?? I've seen the 2 OVAs in VHS as like a boxset thingy...does that have the MV???
Another thing, I'm a huge TB/reluctant X fan, as if you can't guess, can you list all the MV's that have either of those series in it? I know there is X^2 and CLAMP in Wonderland, is there anything else??
Thanx so much :)
seisui
Neither the North American VHS nor the DVD release of Tokyo Babylon include the music video. You may be able to find it on the Region 2 LD or VHS. As for other music videos (produced by CLAMP, not by fans) that include X or Tokyo Babylon, as far as I know, those are the only two. CLAMP has produced music videos for Wish and, I believe, Clover; I saw this advertised during the first Cardcaptor Sakura movie. Not sure if it was every actually released or that was simply a commercial for the manga.
I've recently started enjoying Hana Yori Dango, and I've been trying to find a good place to buy the tankoubons. The translations are nice and all, but it's just not the same without the artwork. Do you have any ideas of a good place to buy them? I'd prefer an English web site, but I'm starting to feel that antsy feeling settle in. I appreciate the help.
Cheers,
Aniko
I bought my set of Hana Yori Dango from Kinokuniya books; I know they sell them there. You can find a complete set at almost any anime convention. As for websites, Planet Anime at www.planetanime.com has the entire manga set on hand for a mere 6.99 per volume, plus shipping. They tend to be pretty fast, so give them a try.
[insert standard dear-answerman-i-love-your-column -header]
A few questions (no, really?) for you that have been bothering me for a while..
1. How on earth do Yankee Corps(tm) decide which series to license & distribute? Do they have "scouts" who just watch new anime 24h, or do "they" just calculate x amount of robots + y amount of cute girls = z amount of $$? Or do they (*gasp*) actually listen to anime fans on which series to licence?
2. How come suspicious (meaning not directly aimed at kids) series like Now & Then, Here & There get licensed after a few episodes (don't get me wrong, I love NTHT)), but sure-fire-$$-anime like Noir still hasn't been licensed even though it has finished running in Japan ages ago..
3. How much does it actually cost to purchase a full serie? Let's say I could convince a small Finnish cabletv-chan to pick up an anime series like NGE, does (whoeverownstherights) sell it by the episode or by full series only?
4. What the hell does Puni Puni Poemi have to do with Excel Saga?-) Is there any more than just 1 episode of it?
Thanks in advance,
Nikke Nyman (and no, there still aren't any polar bears in Finland)
There are a hell of a lot of reasons why companies license certain series. It may have specific American appeal, use popular characters, be part of a currently popular trend, come from a well-known franchise, or it might even be a big risk with potential payoff. Sometimes, if fan demand is palatable enough, companies will license titles based on how big the fan base is. As for your second question, Now and Then, Here and There was undoubtedly a cheap license. A few companies passed it over before it finally got licensed. Noir is still under license negotiations; technically, ADV announced the title, but something along the way got screwed over so they had to take a step back for a while. Also, Noir didn't finish "ages ago". It completed its broadcast in late September. The fact that it was considered for licensing back in July pretty much nullifies your argument. Thirdly, licensing costs vary from series to series. NGE has to be a fairly expensive show, given its popularity. Usually they come in a package deal. Puni Puni Poemi is a spin-off from Excel Saga; it features a few of the old characters, like Nabeshin. Oddly enough, in Excel Saga, Poemi is only shown in background posters and drawings of one episode!
Dear answerman
One day I would like to become an animator. Are there any opportunities for an american that speaks japanese, in the japanese animation industry. I'f not are there any animation companies in america that produce anime or animation of a similar type.
For all the information you'd ever want on this topic, check out Scott Frazier's incredibly useful site at: http://www.sockfairy.com/scott/animinjp/index.htm
Hey, Answerman-san, I've got a question for you.
Are there any more episodes of Tenchi Muyo!? Episode 13 seems to not really wrap up anything and I can't find anymore after that. I would like to see more of that leading man....
Thanx, Rhiannon
Well, there are two TV series and three movies, and a third OVA series coming out in the spring. So, if you're talking about the OVA series, you'll have to wait a little longer, but yes, more is coming out.
Dear answerman,
Im just curious as to why no one has picked up the rights to Wedding Peach yet, considering it's similarity to the extremely popular 'Sailor Moon'. The rights can't exactly be that expensive can they?
And, I heard Princess Rogue was released on DVD awhile ago, but under a different title. I can't find it at all. What is its new title?
Thanks
Nobody's bought Wedding Peach yet because it's pretty old and the market for it is somewhat small. Yeah, Sailor Moon is popular, but that doesn't mean Wedding Peach will be. Princess Rouge was called "Legend of the Last Labyrinth" on DVD. Don't ask me why that was better than "Princess Rouge", but, the DVD has been available for some time now.
Answerman, work with me on this one:
Has there been, is there, will there ever be a Metal Gear anime? It seems like a perfectly logical next step. Heck, the instruction manual to "Metal Gear Solid II" had an instructional manga in it.
Well, what's the word?
I wish. No word yet and I don't think there are any plans.
Dearest Answerman,
The question I'm about to ask you has been in my head for a while. It all started when Nelvana dubbed CCS. Very few people think it's great but come on; most of us know it's an evil clone of the original series that doesn't deserve to see the light of day. *ahem* Anyhoo, it got me wonderin..How did Nelvana have the rights to dub CCS and bring it to US/Canadian shores? Was it THAT easy for Nelvana to go to the original owners of the series and say "We're really untalented baffoons who want to buy your show, chop it up, and brainwash little children to say 'SAH-KOU-RAH' so they can petrify CCS fans!" ? I'm not saying that 2nd party companies who try to take a show to US shores are horrible. But the point is..is it that easy to buy rights to an anime or manga series? And back to CCS for a sec; didn't CLAMP have a 'say'? Don't they have some of the rights to the manga and anime? How could they let Nelvana do what they did??
Whoa..sorry I wrote alot A-man..hehe ^^
10x as always~!
Ease isn't really a factor. Nelvana had the money, CLAMP wanted the money. Bingo-bango, capitalism at work. I'm sure Nelvana had to hire a Japanese liason, but beyond that, it's all about the Benjamins, as the kids say these days.
Dear almighty answerman,
I saw kite for the first time and it was pretty harsh but then i learned from reading an archive answerman colum that the uncut version wasnt really uncut. If i wanted to see the fully uncut version would i have to get some kind of fansub? Can you tell me a realiabul place to get it? Thx
You'd have to import the DVD from Japan. A fully uncut version won't ever be available here in the states because we have laws against child pornography and Media Blasters would probably rather not be seen as the company who brought that kind of trash into the states. The director prefers the cut version; if I were you, I'd be happy with what I had.
i was watching an episode of ebert and roeper at the movies and they were doing a special on dvd's and they talked about dvds with easter eggs meaning that they had xtra stuff on the dvd but they weren't written on the menus and that you had to look for them and i was wondering if there was any anime on dvd that has any easter eggs?
Check out www.animeondvd.com for a complete list of easter eggs on anime DVDs.
Oh wise Answerman,
Do you know when the series Saber Marionette J to X is coming to the U.S. I have the first box set and the OAV and been hearing about it coming out for a year now but it still hasn't come out is there a problem with the licensing tell me what you know.
Thank you Answerman
Bandai's just sitting on it for now. They've made mention of a possible release date next year. Just be patient.
Dear Answerman I am visual impaired(Left eye 20/400 Right eye 20/200) and part of an anime club. They tend to watch anime subtitled with a few exceptions. My question is should i try to do something so i can watch the anime with them or should i just watch what i can with them and then skip out. i really enjoy the anime they show and some of them i can keep up with the subtitles but most of them i can't and there is a dub version of it right there in the club(we watch DVDs mostly) so my question is as i ask above should i complain to the president of our club and tell him(which he does know i am visuall impaired and up to this point i skip when i can't read the subtitles) or should i just not do anything or is it just a matter of opinion? well i hope you can help me with a bit of wise advice.
Signed
Ryan T. Dasher
Well, if you've only got one person in the audience who has specific needs that directly affect everyone, you've got to look at the big picture. Depending on how many people there are, how many shows you watch, and how accepting people are, I'd ask if it's possible to watch dubbed stuff. Take into account that asking them to show only dubs so you can stay and watch everything is probably not going to go over well and it will make you sound a bit selfish; if they watch some dubbed stuff and some subbed, it sounds like they've made concessions already. Basically, try to start a polite dialogue about it and see how people respond; we can only solve these kinds of problems through respect and understanding.
So that's it for today. See you on Friday.
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