If you read the feature article, you'll find out exactly where it is in production. And it's not out yet. However, since Bandai Entertainment, Inc. is one of the co-producers of the movie, it will certainly be released in the United States (although it may only be a video release).

The Dogs of War
From: Ray Lee

I recently found your site and I'm still trying to get through tons of information presented here. But one bit of info I'm trying to find is regarding a Japanese animation director, Oshii Mamoru. I heard his latest project was a film called JIN-ROH. Is that coming to the U.S. in the near future? Is there any information on the internet regarding his other future projects? Please reply if you have any info. Thanks.

Well, Oshii was certainly involved in JIN-ROH, since it was based on his original manga story KENROU DENSETSU ~ KERBEROS PANZER COP. However, he didn't direct the film. Instead, GHOST IN THE SHELL animation director and character designer Okiura Hiroyuki makes his directorial debut with JIN-ROH. Oshii did pen the screenplay for the film.

Calling the SDF-1
From: Matt Nelson

Hi, I know I'm behind the times, and this is something most probably already know, but I was wondering: What ever happened to MACROSS VFX? I played a demo, and I loved it; I saved my money for when it came out, and it never did! Just curious; I will buy an import if I have to, but who knows; maybe it did come out and I didn't know or something. At any rate, thanks for your time, and I await your email.

Well, if you mean MACROSS DIGITAL MISSION VFX 2, the game was supposed to be released last fall by Bandai America. However, after some problems with the game, it was decided that the release was not worth it and the project was scrapped.

Jigglypuff, CA?
From: Dickinson Lo

I just finished reading Beyond TV Safety and I just had to email you guys to let Scott know I have this burning question for him:
Scott, what the heck are you smoking!?
Also, I live in Seattle, and the prospects of it getting nuked out of existence plus having Olympia renamed to Pikachu...well, maybe it's time I moved back to California (no cities there get renamed to Jigglypuff right? RIGHT Scott?)

Scott replies: I wasn't smoking anything, and even if I was, you couldn't have any.
Whether or not any major U.S. urban areas get renamed after Pokémon remains to be seen, but we're betting that if it does happen, the Pacific Northwest will be the first area to be hit. After all, Scott was right about BOO BOO RUBBER PANIC.

Pages?
From: Chris

I would like to start by saying that since I first found this site, four days ago, I've enjoyed reading the many articles and essays. (Which are so fun.) I've only got two questions. One: does EX have access to other sites, that may have methods of teaching the Japanese language. (I only ask this because I can't get it in school, or find any sites that do, yet. And because of my weak faith in translations.) Two: How many pages are in EX, old & new?

I don't know of a page on the web that teaches Japanese, but there are a lot of books that will help you get started. Keep in mind, though, that it's not an easy language to learn, so it's going to take a lot of practice and dedication. Don't give up.
As for how many pages there are in all the issues of EX, we've published over 1300 pages to date.

Anime Made in the U.S.A. (sort of)
From: David-Rex Floyd

I am curious to know when you guys are gonna write an story on Anime that is being produced for American audiences? From what I have known and heard, Madhouse is working on a anime adaptation of Glen Danzig's SATANIKA comic, Sunrise is working on an adaptation of Ben Dunn's WARRIOR NUN ARALEA, and ADV and Phoenix Entertainment are teaming up to produce Anime OVA's of the computer game, SIN, and the comic, LADY DEATH. Could give an update on those projects?
Another thing I wish to know about is the anime ALEXANDER. I hear Madhouse is working on it while Peter Chung is doing the designs. Speaking of Peter Chung, I hear he's doing a commercial for Checkers fast food chains, got any info on that?

Some of these projects are mired in preproduction difficulties. After the three-minute SATANIKA video done several years ago, little has been done since. However, we'll look into this and maybe you'll see an article down the road. Peter Chung did indeed do the character designs for ALEXANDER, but I know nothing about a commercial. (I also don't know what Checkers is, though. Proof that I don't know everything.)

Love That Wing!
From: Adrian

I heard about 2 months or 3 before the end of 1999 and I heard that cartoon network is going to show GUNDAM WING in the Spring but I was wondering if you know if Cartoon Network will show all of it, not like some of the other shows they stopped like SAILOR MOON. And also I would like to know the date and time GUNDAM WING will be showing. thank you.

You and many others have been waiting for this information. GUNDAM WING will indeed be on the Cartoon Network this spring. Check out the EX:Press section, our updated news area, for Bandai Entertainment's most recent announcement about WING's air times. And yes, GUNDAM WING is scheduled to be run in its entirety.

Feature the Features!
From: Daniel Douglas

Thanks for putting out such a high quality magazine. I have a few questions I was hoping you could answer. Why are American anime production companies buying up so many low quality anime shows and not buying great anime films like JIN-ROH and MEMORIES? I was also wondering do you think that Miramax will release PONPOKO? My final question is has BLOOD been completed, if so have any U.S. production companies bought the rights to it?

Well, to answer your question. One thing may be standing in the way: money. Licensing feature films is often a much more expensive proposition than a television series. And anime companies aren't guaranteed to make any more money off of it than they are off of another volume of TENCHI MUYO, for example. POKÉMON vs MONONOKE has made that pretty clear. Besides, many anime companies are not set up to release feature films, and some Japanese companies are holding out in the hopes that a Hollywood studio will buy the films and release them theatrically.
As for PONPOKO, it's doubtful whether it will see a theatrical release. With Miramax being disappointed by the box office performance of MONONOKE, it is doubtful that any more of Ghibli's movies will be released theatrically in the near future.
For more information on the other movies you asked about, please see our feature article in this issue.

Eva! Eva! Eva!
From: Max

I don't know if this is a letter you people won't except because of the question but I'll ask it anyways. When are THE END OF EVANGELION and REBIRTH going to be released in the U.S. (dubbed)?

Manga Entertainment is being rather tight-lipped about this, as making a movie ready for theatrical release is much more complicated than releasing it direct-to-video. However, sources report that it probably won't be released until 2001.

From: Patrick Donnelly

I would like to know how to keep appraised of all the new anime coming out on DVD and in the theaters. By the time I found out about PERFECT BLUE it had already been taken out of the theater(is it available on DVD yet? ) I would like to know about any new anime movies coming out.

This issue was meant for you! Now you can preview anime movies coming out both in the United States and in Japan. And, if you're looking for information on theatrical dates (like for, oh, I don't know Manga Entertainment's theatrical release of CLAMP's X) or on DVD updates, be sure to check out the news section of our magazine, EX:Press.

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