1998 will be marked by the surge in first-run animation on satellite television and the return of several classics to the theaters. No less than seven series will debut this spring on satellite television, and numerous projects long anticipated by fans should appear on the silver screen. Veterans including Tomino Yoshiyuki (MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM, MOBILE SUIT V GUNDAM), CLAMP (MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH), Mikimoto Haruhiko (THE SUPER DIMENSION FORTRESS MACROSS, MACROSS 7), and Fujishima Kousuke (YOU'RE UNDER ARREST) will return to television through satellite. Likewise, such familiar favorites as GALAXY EXPRESS 999, GUNDAM, LODOSS, and PATLABOR will return to theaters.

Television Series

BOMBERMAN/MARBLEMAN EXPLOSIVE SIDE STORY (BONBA-MAN BI-DAMAN BAKU GAIDEN)
Debut:	7 February 1998 (Saturday), 17:00, TV Asahi
Director:	Nakanishi Nobuaki
Replaces:	KING OF BRAVES GAOGAIGAR
ANIME WEEKLY DX [DELUXE]! MII/PHA/PUU (ANIME SHUUKAN DX [DERAKUSU]! MII FA PUU) [3-part omnibus program]
Debut:	14 February 1998 (Saturday), 18:30, TV Asahi
FACE THIS WAY, MIIKO (KOCCHI MUITE MIIKO)
Created by:	Ono Eriko (serialized in Monthly Chao (Shougakukan))
MYSTERIOUS MAGIC PHAN2 PHARMACY (FUSHIGI MAHOU FAN FAN FA-MASHI-)
Created by:	Hakuba Yukiko (serialized in Monthly Ohisama (Shougakukan))
HELI-OCTOPUS PUU-CHAN (HERI-TAKO PUU-CHAN)
Created by:	Sasaki Takemaru (serialized in Monthly Chao (Shougakukan))
Production:	Toei Animation
Replaces:	CUTEY HONEY F [FLASH]
ROUND-VERNIAN VIFAM 13 (GINGA HYOURYUU BAIFAMU SA-TI-N)
Debut:	21 March 1998 (Saturday), 26:05, MBS [22 March 1998 (Sunday), 02:05, MBS]
Director:	Kawase Toshifumi
Character Design:	Ashida Tomio
Mechanical Design:	Ohkawara Kunio
Production:	Sunrise
Replaces:	ROUND-VERNIAN VIFAM (rebroadcast)
RECORD OF LODOSS WAR: LEGEND OF HEROIC KNIGHTS (RO-DOSU-TOU SENKI: EIYUU KISHI DEN)
Debut:	1 April 1998 (Wednesday), 18:00, TV Tokyo
Created by:	Mizuno Ryou/Group SNE (serialized in Monthly Shounen Ace (Kadokawa))
Character Design:	Soeta Kazuhiro
Production:	AIC
Replaces:	ALL-PURPOSE CULTURAL CATGIRL
TAKOYAKI CAPEMAN (TAKOYAKI MANTOMAN)
Debut:	4 April 1998 (Saturday), 07:30, TV Tokyo
Created by:	Takada Hiroh
Production:	Studio Pierrot
AKIHABARA CYBER TEAM (AKIHABARA DENNOU GUMI)
Debut:	4 April 1998 (Saturday), 16:30, TBS
Created by:	Kotobuki Tsukasa (serialized in Nakayosi (Kodansha))
Director:	Fujimoto Yoshitaka
Series Script Supervisor:	Yamaguchi Hiroshi
Character & Mechanical Design:	Kotobuki Tsukasa
Production:	Ashi Production
MAGICAL STAGE FANCY LALA (MAHOU NO SUTE-JI FANSHI- RARA)
Debut:	5 April 1998 (Sunday), 09:30, TV Tokyo
Production:	Studio Pierrot
DIMENSIONAL TENSA NAZCA (JIKUU TENSA NASUKA)
Debut:	6 April 1998 (Monday), 25:15, TV Tokyo
	[7 April 1998 (Tuesday), 01:15, TV Tokyo]
Serialized in:	Ace Dash (Kadokawa)
Director:	Tokita Hiroko
Character Design:	Sano Hirotoshi
Concept Visual:	Ohno Yasuyuki
Production:	Genco, Radix
Replaces:	VAMPIRE [PRINCESS] MIYU
SILENT MÖBIUS (SAIRENTO MEBIUSU)
Debut:	7 April 1998 (Tuesday), 18:00, TV Tokyo
Created by:	Asamiya Kia (serialized in Monthly Comic Dragon (Fujimi))
Series Script Supervisor/Script:	Kawasaki Hiroyuki
SF Research:	Takayama Katsuhiko
Production:	Radix
Replaces:	MASTER MOSQUITON '99
CARD CAPTOR SAKURA (KA-DO KYAPUTA- SAKURA)
Debut:	7 April 1998 (Tuesday), 18:00, NHK BS-2 (Broadcast Satellite 2)
Created by:	CLAMP (serialized in Nakayosi (Kodansha))
Series Script Supervisor:	Okawa Nanase
Costume & Card Design:	Mokona Apapa
Character Design:	Takahashi Kumiko
Production:	Madhouse
Replaces:	AZUKI-CHAN
BRAIN POWERD (BURENPAWA-DO) [Spelled with one "E"]
Debut:	8 April 1998, 19:30, NHK BS-5 WOWOW (Premium Broadcast Satellite, Scrambled)
Planning/Story Draft:	Yadate Hajime, Tomino Yoshiyuki (serialized in Monthly Shounen Ace (Kadokawa))
Director:	Tomino Yoshiyuki
Main Design:	Nagano Mamoru, Isonomata Mutsumi
Production:	Sunrise
TRIGUN (TORAIGAN)
	10 April 1998 (Friday), 25:00
Debut:	[11 April 1998 (Saturday), 01:00]
Production:	Madhouse
SUPREME RULER OF THE HOT SANDS GANDHARA (NETSUSA NO HAOH GANDA-RA)
Debut:	10 April 1998 (Friday), 25:00, NHK BS-5 WOWOW (Premium Broadcast Satellite, Unscrambled)
	[11 April 1998 (Saturday), 01:00, NHK BS-5 WOWOW (Premium Broadcast Satellite, Unscrambled)]
Created and Planned by:	Ohnishi Yoshimasa
Director:	Ueda Hidehito
Series Script Supervisor:	Sakai Akiyoshi
Original Character Design:	Mikimoto Haruhiko
Animation Character Design:	Hayama Junichi
Monster Design:	Moriki Yasunori
Production:	Ashi Production
ANIME MAGAZINE BS-5 (ANIME MAGAJIN BS-5) [3-part omnibus program]
Debut:	April 1998 (Mondays), 19:00, NHK BS-5 WOWOW (Premium Broadcast Satellite, Unscrambled)
NEORANGA (NANKAI KISEI)
Created and written by:	Sogawa Noboru
Director:	Kamiya Atsushi
Production:	Studio Pierrot
AH! MY GODDESS/OH MY GODDESS!: TINYNESS'S CONVENIENT! (AA-- MEGAMISAMA-- CHICCHAITTE KOTO BENRI DANE--) [SD version]
Created by:	Fujishima Kousuke (serialized in Comic Afternoon (Kodansha))
Production:	OLM
ANDROID ANA MAICO 2010 (ANDOROIDOANA MAIKO 2010)
Character Design:	Ishikura Keichi
BASARA
Debut:	April 1998
Created by:	Tamura Yumi (serialized in Shoujo Comic Special (Shogakukan))
Director:	Takamoto Noburu
Production:	KSS
BUBBLEGUM CRISIS (BABURUGAMU KURAISHISU) [Note: The planned release is dependent on sponsor support.]
Debut:	April 1998
Director:	Hiyashi Hiroki
Character Designer:	Matsubara Hidenori
Mechanical/Production Designer:	Aramaki Shinji
Production:	AIC
LOST UNIVERSE (ROSUTO YUNIBA-SU)
Debut:	April 1998 (Fridays), 18:30, TV Tokyo
Created by:	Kanzaka Hajime
Production:	EG Film
Replaces:	BATTLE ATHLETESS: GREAT SPORTS MEET
PRINCESS NINE: KISARAGI GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM (PURINSESU NAIN KISARAGI JOSHI KOU YAKYUU-BU)
Debut:	April 1998, NHK BS-2 (Broadcast Satellite 2)
Director:	Mochizuki Tomomi
Original Character Design:	Yamashita Akihiko
GRANDER MUSASHI RV (GURANDA- MUSASHI RV)
Debut:	Spring 1998
Created by:	Teshirogi Takashi
Production:	Nippon Animation
THE STATE OF BOYFRIENDS AND GIRLFRIENDS (KARESHI KANOJO NO JIJOU)
Debut:	Fall 1998 (or later)
Created by:	Tsuda Masami (serialized in Monthly LaLa (Hakuensha))
Director/Scriptwriter/Sound Director:	Anno Hideaki
Production:	GAINAX
COWBOY BEBOP (KAUBO-I BIBAPPU)
Debut:	1998
Created by:	Yadate Hajime (serialized in Monthly Asuka Fantasy DX (Kadokawa) as SHOOTING STAR BEBOP)
Director:	Watanabe Shinichiroh
Series Script Supervisor:	Nobumoto Keiko
Character Design:	Kawamoto Toshihiro
Mechanical Design:	Yamane Kimitoshi
Music:	Kanno Yoko
Production:	Sunrise
GASARAKI
Debut:	1998
Created by:	Yadate Hajime and Takahashi Ryousuke (novelized in Newtype (Kadokawa) and serialized in Ace Dash (Kadokawa))
Director:	Takahashi Ryousuke
Character Design/Visual Director:	Murase Shukou
Mechanical Design:	Izubuchi Yutaka
Production:	Sunrise
Film Releases
PERFECT BLUE (PA-FEKUTO BURU-)
Debut:	14 February 1998 (after 1997 domestic and international previews)
Created by:	Takeuchi Yoshikazu
Director:	Kon Satoshi
Screenplay:	Murai Sadayuki
Character Design:	Eguchi Hisashi
Special Advisor:	Otomo Katsuhiro
Production:	Madhouse
GALAXY EXPRESS 999: ETERNAL FANTASY (GINGA TETSUDOU TSURI- NAIN ETA-NARU FANTAJI-)
Debut:	7 March 1998, Toei
Story Concept/Setting:	Matsumoto Leiji (serialized in Monthly Big Gold (Shogakukan))
Production:	Toei Animation
DORAEMON: NOBITA'S SOUTH SEAS ADVENTURE (DORAEMON NOBITA NO NANKAI BOUKEN)
Debut:	7 March 1998, Toho
Production:	Shogakukan
MAZE (MAZE BAKUNETSU JIKUU)
Debut:	March 1998 (Double-billing with below project)
Created and Written by:	Akahori Satoru
Production:	J.C. Staff
WELCOME TO LODOSS ISLAND! (YOUKOZO RO-DOSU-TOU E!) [SD version]
Debut:	March 1998 (Double-billing with above project)
Created by:	Mizuno Ryou/Hyakuyashiki Rei (serialized in Monthly Shounen Ace (Kadokawa))
Production:	AIC
CRAYON SHINCHAN: THE GREAT ELECTRIC SHOCK PIG'S HOOF OPERATION (KUREYON SHINCHAN DENGEKI BUTA NO HIZUME DAISAKUSEN)
Debut:	18 April 1998, Toho
Director/Scriptwriter:	Hara Keiichi
Production:	Toho
FAMOUS DETECTIVE CONAN: THE 4TH TARGET (MEI TANTEI KONAN 4BANME NO HYOUTEKI)
Debut:	18 April 1998, Toho
Director/Scriptwriter:	Hara Keiichi
Production:	Toho
MARTIAN SUCCESSOR [MOBILE BATTLESHIP] NADESICO THE MOVIE (KIDOU SENKAN NADESHIKO GEKIJOUBAN)
Debut:	Summer 1998
Serialized:	in Monthly Shounen Ace (Kadokawa) as METEOR SCHLATCHTSCHIFF NADESICO
Original Character Design:	Asamiya Kia
Character Design/General Animation Director:	Gotoh Keiji
Production:	XEBEC
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM: THE 08TH MS TEAM THE MOVIE (KIDOU SENSHI GANDAMU DAI08 MS SHOUTAI GEKIJOUBAN)
Debut:	Summer 1998, Matsutake (Double-billing with below project)
Production:	Sunrise
NEW MOBILE WAR RECORD GUNDAM W [WING]: ENDLESS WALTZ SPECIAL EDITION (SHIN KIDOU SENKI GANDAMU W[WINGU]: ENDORESU WARUTSU TOKUBETSUHEN) [Note: Compilation of 3-volume video series with about 100 scene retakes and 10 minutes of new footage]
Debut:	Summer 1998, Matsutake (Double-billing with above project)
Production:	Sunrise
POCKET MONSTERS: MYUU 2'S COUNTERATTACK & PIKACHUU'S SUMMER VACATION (POKETTO MONSUTA-: MYUU TSU- NO GYAKUSHUU & PIKACHUU NO NATSU YASUMI) [Note: Shogakukan Production has suspended production of Pocket Monsters pending the conclusion of the government investigation into last December's visually-induced epilepsy incident.]
Debut:	Summer 1998, Toho
Production:	Shogakukan Production
SUPURIGAN
Debut:	Fall 1998 (after Summer 1998 American premiere)
Created and Written by:	Takashige Chuu, Minagawa Ryounichi
Production Advisor:	Otomo Katsuhiro
Production:	Production IG
AH! MY GODDESS/OH MY GODDESS! (AA-- MEGAMISAMA--) [Note: According to AIC, this perennial on-again-off-again project is—as of this month—on again.]
Debut:	Summer 1998
Created by:	Fujishima Kousuke (serialized in Comic Afternoon (Kodansha))
Production:	AIC
XIII PATLABOR (SA-TI-N PATOREIBA-)
Debut:	1998
Created by:	Headgear
Original Draft:	Yuuki Masami
Director:	Takayama Fumihiko
Script:	Tori Miki
Supervisor:	Izubuchi Yutaka
Character Design/Animation Director:	Takagi Hiroki
Production:	Triangle Staff
JINROU
Debut:	1998
Created and Written by:	Oshii Mamoru
Production:	Production IG
THE VISION OF ESCAFLOWNE (TENKUU NO ESUKAFURO-NE) [Note: Sunrise will only acknowledge such an Escaflowne project is in tentative planning.]
Debut:	1998 (tentative)
Created by:	Yadate Hajime and Kawamori Shouji (serialized in Monthly Shounen Ace (Kadokawa) and Monthly Asuka Fantasy DX (Kadokawa))
Director:	Akane Kazuki
Character Designer:	Yuuki Nobuteru
Production:	Sunrise
STEAM BOY [Note: First Japanese full-digital full-length animation film. The story is an adventure drama centering on a 13-year-old boy named Ray in 19th century England.]
Debut:	1999
Creator/Script/Director:	Otomo Katsuhiro
Production:	Bandai Visual
G.R.M.: THE RECORD OF GARM WAR (tentative) (GARUMU SENKI) [Note: Full-length animation/live-action/special-effects/CG film. The story is an nonconventional fantasy centering on armageddon on an alternate world.]
Debut:	2000
Created by:	Itoh Kazuyoshi
Executive Director:	Oshii Mamoru
Special Effects Director:	Higuchi Masashi
Digital Director:	Mori Hiroyuki
Production:	Bandai Visual
Live Musicals
PRETTY SOLDIER SAILOR MOON: ETERNAL LEGEND, REVISED EDITION (BISHOUJO SENSHI SE-RA- MU-N: EIEN DENSETSU KAITEI-HAN)
Debut:	5 February 1998 (Thursday), 18:00, Ikebukuro Sunshine Theater
Preview Event:	11 January 1998 (Saturday), 18:00, Ikebukuro Sunshine Theater
Cast:	Ohyama Anza, Morino Ayako, Kotani Misako, Kimura Sanae, Saito Rei