Whaz Up @ Anime!: Smarter than the average Goku....

News: The Lucasfilm/ MMG War rages on: MMG sues Lucas for $100,000,000 (don't worry, your vision is fine, it says a hundred million dollars)
January 31, 2002
Source: Anime News Service

Ok, lets start with the facts. Star Ballz is anime, right? Right. To some people, it may even be a cartoon, right? Right. And of course, since it is a cartoon, it is aimed at little children, right? Err, I guess, right?! Therefore, Media Market Group, the makers of Star Ballz, are selling porn to children, right? Huh!?! Well, according to miss Lynne Hale, spokeperson of Lucasfilm's, that is exactly what they are doing. And to reward her for blatantly stereotyping the genre of Japanese animation, MMG just sued Lucasfilm for....are you sitting down? 100,000,000 bucks! Honestly, I doubt they'll ever see all that money, but you can't blame them for trying, considering Hale's accusation that they are selling porn to children and how this affects the image of their company and anime in general. This unbelievable declarations were made by Hale after Lucasfilm lost Round 1 in the legal battle that they wage against MMG because of their hentai Star Wars parody, Star Ballz. For further updates, stay tuned as the Star Ballz/ Lucas war rages on. Will the Force be with Lucas or with MMG? Only time and millions of dollars spent in lawyers will tell.

News: Adult Swim Action: New series, old favorites, and a bucket full of giant robots. Any questions?
January 27, 2002
Source: Anime News Network

The wait is finally over. After months of constant rumors and teasing, Cartoon Network finally made it official. Pilot Candidate, Gundam 0083, and Yu Yu Hakusho are coming to the small screen. However, you won't see any of these from 5 to 7 on Toonami. Oh no, this is far too big for that. Starting February 23, Cartoon Network will premiere these awesome anime series along with a couple of old favorites on the brand-new Adult Swim Action! Yep, you heard right. 3 whole hours of quality anime programming each and every Saturday starting on February 23. Now you have a new reason to stay at home on Saturday night. Starting at 11 pm eastern, this late night block of anime action will include:

*Yu Yu Hakusho @ 11 p.m. (Oh yeah, it's really happening)
*Cowboy Bebop @ 11:30 p.m. (oh well, another re-run of Bebop, the series kicks ass, so it ain't so bad)
*Pilot Candidate @ midnight (aka Candidate for Goddess, this is along the lines of Vandread, so ya know you are in for a heck of a ride)
*Gundam 0083 @ 12:30 a.m. (awww, geez, more Gundam....damn right more Gundam. Forget Gundam Wing. Screw Mobile Suit Gundam. If you only see one Gundam, make it 0083. This series kicks ass and it's a personal favorite of mine. Don't miss it!)
*Outlaw Star @ 1 a.m (oh yeah, you knew Gene and the gang had to be there somewhere. More re-runs, but OS is so cool you won't mind)
*Tenchi Muyo! @ 1:30 a.m. (ok, there was room for Ronin Warriors, or Sailor Moon, or even the Powerpuff Girls; but Tenchi. Unless they are planning on showing it uncut; this is a ride I'm not taking again)

Now, you probably know about most of this series, but anyway. For reviews of Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Star, and all the incarnations of Tenchi Muyo!, check out Animetric.com. For a short review of Pilot Candidate and some kick ass pics, check out Anime Okashi. For info on Yu Yu Hakusho, check out the review at Animetric. This link is somewhat hidden, so check it out while ya can. And last, but not least, for info on Gundam 0083, check out this synopsis/mini-review from Godzilla's Anime City. Don't let the goofy name fool ya; the review is quite good and includes some cool pics.

News: Vote for Kiki!
January 26, 2002
Source: Animenation

Important announcement here for all Hayao Miyazaki fans! Disney has just posted a sort of petition in their site, allowing you to vote for the re-release of Kiki's Delivery Service. One of Miyazaki's best, this movie is now out of print. As an anime fan, it is your duty to help bring it back. Go to the link below and vote. Unlike the elections, your vote here can actually make a difference.

To vote, go here. You vote on the link that appears below the pic of the VHS release cover art (the one with Kiki flying on her broom). For information on Miyazaki and his work (including Kiki), check out Nausicaa.net. This is pretty much the Bible when it comes to Miyazaki, so check out. Great site. For a review, you can check out JNN.

News: Fruit Basket is coming!
January 25, 2002
Source: Anime News Network

Well, it's official. At least according to numerous anime news sites all over the net. Fruit Basket is coming to America. And who else to bring us the adventures of a group of teens who transform into animals of the Chinese Zodiac whenever a person of the opposite sex hugs them, than FUNimation itself. Oh yeah; the guys that brought us Dragon Ball, Blue Gender, and the upcoming Yu Yu Hakusho, once again impress and surprise the anime community by announcing that they have the rights to distribute the 26 episode TV series Fruit Basket in America. For those of you wondering just what the hell is Fruit Basket; it can pretty much be described as Ranma 1/2 meets Kodomo no Omocha. It's a comedy about high school students that change into cute little animals of the Chinese Zodiac when someone of the opposite sex hugs them. The TV series is directed by Akitaro Daichi of Kodomo no Omocha fame and most of the animation staff is the same. The manga is by Natsuki Takaya and it's still pretty popular in Japan right now; last time I checked, it was # 1. The TV series is also quite popular and along with Noir, eX-Driver, and Angelic Layer; was one of the most succesful anime series in Japan last year. Therefore, the fact that FUNimation adquired it is very big news. Details such as release date and stuff like that are still rather sketchy, so guess we'll have to wait to see how Funi will handle this one.

For the whole story, you can check out the ANS. For a review of this awesome series, you can check out the Hanami Gumi site here.

News: Star Ballz=1 George Lucas= 0
January 24, 2002
Source: Yahoo Entertaiment News

Oh yeah, the giant has fallen. Mr. George "Star Wars" Lucas has lost the first round in a battle that he himself started against the hentai parody Star Ballz. Claiming that the film was so similar to Star Wars, that people will think he endorsed it; Mr. Lucas got the court to issue a temporary restraining order in December, which in simpler words meant no more Star Ballz for a while. However, everything changed in January 8 when the smart judge Wilken (which by the way is a woman) said, and I quote, that there was "little likelihood of confusion" and allowed the guys at Media Market Group (the guys that made Star Ballz) to sell their product once again. Of course, Lucas may be down, but not out and he'll probably appeal the decision. The guy has money to waste and nothing better to do anyway. All in all, Star Ballz just kicked George Lucas ass in the first round. Will he get up or will he run crying to Skywalker ranch? Only time and his army of lawyers will tell.

Want to read the whole story, check it out here. Wanna know what the hell is Star Ballz, check out the official site. For a review, you can check out Ro's site here. Remember, this is hentai or as some people like to call it, "cartoon porn". In other words, to check out the last 2 sites you must be 18 or older. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Editorial note: By the way, I want to clear one thing up. I respect George Lucas and his work. Star Wars is a saga that has changed the way people look at sci-fi and movies in general, and that is something no one can take away. However, I can't respect a guy that goes out of his way to sue anyone that uses the "oh so sacred" Star Wars name. C'mon dude, it's a movie. You sue when someone is making money for something you made, not when someone took your concept, changed it, and is making money off a parody of said changed concept that little resembles yours. Now, I know Mr. Lucas is supposed to be a big name in Hollywood and all, but how can you respect a guy that sued a medical equipment company because they named their latest surgical device the "Light Saber". Now, c'mon, that was uncalled for.