Rocket Bomber - anime

There are more than 700 “episodes” of Gundam (broadcast TV, movies, OVAs, shorts — and not counting the manga, video games, or plastic model kits) and the history of Gundam—more formally Mobile Suit Gundam (機動戦士ガンダム Kidō Senshi Gandamu)—goes back 35 years

35 frickin’ years

…so when we get news that Sunrise is finally getting serious about making Gundam available to American fans its a Big Freakin’ Deal, Kids. (well, for a certain stripe of anime fan, anyway.)

The sheer size of the franchise though, combined with all the twists and turns and alternate timelines, is daunting (to say the least) for the casual anime viewer. All the information you need is available from Wikipedia and other sources, but once again, the volume of material is a huge barrier to entry. Where do you start?

I still can’t tell you where to start – but I can give you a list:

Odds and ends:
1988 SD Gundam (13 OVAs)
2010 SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors (51eps, 10min shorts)
2010 Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G (3 OVAs)
2013 Gundam Build Fighters (25eps) season 1
2014 Gundam Build Fighters Try – currently airing
2014 Mobile Suit Gundam-san (13 3min shorts)

“After Colony” timeline:
AC0195 Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (1995) (49eps)
AC0195 Gundam W: Operation Meteor (1996) (4) – compilation OVAs, also known as “Odds and Evens”
AC0196 Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz (1997) (3 OVAs) – also edited into a theatrical movie release in 1998

“AD” timeline, presumably our (sci-fi) future:
AD2307 Gundam 00 (2007) (50eps)
AD2314 Gundam 00 the Movie Awakening of the Trailblazer (2010)

“Advanced Generation” timeline:
AG0115 Gundam Age (2011) (49eps) – there are three generational story arcs, each about 25 years apart.
AG0140 Gundam Age: Memory of Eden (2013) (2 OVAs) – re-edit of the 2nd Gundam Age story arc

“After War” timeline:
AW0015 After War Gundam X (1996) (39eps)

“Correct Century” timeline:
CC2435 Turn A Gundam (1999) (50eps) – the 20th Anniversary Gundam, “affirmatively accepting all of the Gundam series“ but still in it’s own alternate timeline.

“Cosmic Era” timeline:
CE0071 Gundam Seed (2002) (50eps)
CE0073 Seed Destiny (2004) (51eps)
CE0073 Gundam Seed C.E. 73 Stargazer (2006) (single OVA)
Gundam SEED MSV: Astray – two 5min shorts, in Japan included on the Stargazer release
[Tokyopop & Del Rey published quite a bit of the Gundam Seed manga adaptation – 17 volumes – starting back in ’04. just mentioning it as an aside]

“Future Century” timeline:
FC0060 Mobile Fighter G Gundam (1994) (49eps) – oh boy. see comments below.

“Regild Century” timeline:
RC1014 Gundam Reconguista in G (2014), 25 episodes, currently airing. According to Wikipedia, the Regild Century comes after the UC timeline, below. So I guess it’s in continuity?

“Universal Century” timeline:
This is ‘main line’ Gundam – the 1979 series was set in the Universal Century, and Sunrise didn’t start messing around with alternates until 1994. However (and it pains me to bring this up), some of the material in UC represents a re-edit and re-release of older material (for theatrical releases) which was on occasion also changed so there are “canon” and “non-canon” versions — which I’m not going to go into.(Note, this is UC timeline order, not our-boring-AD-calender order) -

UC0068 Gundam: The Origin, currently scheduled as a 4 episode OVA series for 2015 – though with ‘event screenings’ in theaters (in Japan, anyway).
UC0079 Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) (43eps) – or as some call it, “OG” (original gangster) Gundam
UC0079 Gundam Movie Trilogy (1981-2) – 1979 series re-cut into 3 movies, each ~2hrs 20min in length
UC0079 The 08th MS Team (1996) (13 OVAs)
UC0079.1 MS IGLOO The Hidden One Year War (2004) (3 OVAs)
UC0079.2 MS IGLOO Apocalypse (2006) (3 OVAs)
UC0079.3 MS IGLOO 2 The Gravity Front (2009) (3 OVAs)
UC0080 War in the Pocket (1989) (6 OVAs)
UC0083 Stardust Memory (1991) (13 OVAs) – re-cut into a movie in 1992, released as Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: The Last Blitz of Zeon
UC0087 Zeta Gundam (1985) (50eps)
UC0087 Zeta Gundam – A New Translation (2005) – similar to the 1981 movie trilogy, a re-cut of Zeta Gundam into 3 films for theatrical release
UC0088 ZZ Gundam (1986) (47eps)
UC0093 Char’s Counterattack, Movie (1988)
UC0096 Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (2010-2014) (7 OVAs, 60min each)
UC0123 Mobile Suit Gundam F91, Movie (1991)
UC0153 Victory Gundam (1993) (51eps)

Commentary:

• Like many anime fans (at least, mecha and robot anime fans), I am super-aware of Gundam but have seen remarkably little of it. So there’s that; Wikipedia is the better place to go for information on Gundam, but I am quite happy to share with you my impressions of it.

• Outside of any ‘official’ timeline—though technically UC—is the SD (superdeformed) Gundam specials, and the more recent Gundam-san show (based on what is apparently a popular 4-koma). For Gundam fans, these excursions into comedy are likely a lot of fun, but for most of us it would just be confusing. I doubt Sunrise & Rightstuf are bringing these over, though we may see them as extras on some of the box sets.

• 1993 Mobile Fighter G Gundam is of, ah, *special* note: 49 episodes of mecha-as-pro-wrestlers. This got a Cartoon Network broadcast in 2002, so some of you may have fond memories of it. It’s very different from the rest of gundam, though. “This hand of mine is burning red!”
  

• 2013 Gundam Build Fighters and 2014 Gundam Build Fighters Try – where kids build and fight with model Gundams, could be thought of as Pokémon Gundam if we’re being uncharitable. (the more direct comparison would be 2001’s Angelic Layer or 1983’s Plawres Sanshiro, but yes, they’re all proxy fighters). There were 25 episodes in the first season; the second season is currently airing. I’m pretty sure anyone could pick this up as it really is a stand-alone, but I’m guessing knowing about the mecha makes it more entertaining. (Apparently, there are also lots of easter eggs in this show, too)

• The entry point for folks in North America is probably still Gundam Wing, which was on Cartoon Network in 2000 (Gundam Wing was the first Gundam series to be broadcast on U.S. television) and is available on DVD (sort of; check Ebay and Amazon and budget for ‘collectible’ price points) — Gundam Wing matched the Gundam mecha designs with bishonen pilot character design, with a side dish of politics and a heaping helping of dialog. Gundam Wing exists in its own timeline and is different from the rest (though not so different as G Gundam) but still, for many, this was their first and so colors their perception of the franchise.

• If you’re more interested in action, The 08th MS Team also got a DVD release, it’s much shorter, it’s more military-oriented (as you might have guessed from the name) and while part of mainline UC Gundam, it works pretty well as a stand-alone story. This was my first Gundam (via Netflix rental) ten years ago.

• Easiest entry point? 1979 OG Gundam, probably, as that’s where the whole story started. A close second though may be the other series Sunrise and Rightstuf are leading with: Turn A Gundam. As the 20th Anniversary series and given both the involvement and the comments from Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino, it would seem Turn A aspired to be more “Gundam” than the original Gundam. I look forward to watching it. While I will likely buy both (for the sake of the collection and my OCD) I will be purchasing Turn A first.

• Cautionary warning, for those seeking out Gundam DVDs: there are several companies that licensed bits of Gundam over the years, with various dubs produced. Actors aren’t always consistent from release to release and the quality of dubs is more miss (well, middling) than hit. Just sayin’. I don’t mind reading subtitles so it was never an issue for me, but you might find this overview at Otaku Revolution helpful.

I’m sure I missed something; please post any [mild, factual] corrections in the comments.

So.

I’ll lead with the news report I first read.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-04-26/ceo/bang-zoom-to-cease-anime-dubbing-in-2011-without-fan-support

CEO: Bang Zoom to Cease Anime Dubbing in 2011 Without Fan Support
President Eric P. Sherman cites fans watching fansubs, not buying DVDs

…and of course everyone else & their kid brother [i.e. most manga&anime bloggers] have linked to it.

key quote:

Anime is going to die.

Unless YOU change. Right now. Stop stealing. If you have committed theft, robbery, shop-lifting, or just “downloading some stuff through torrent reactor,” then just stop doing it — now. You probably wouldn’t go into a supermarket and put a package of swiss cheese under your shirt and walk out without paying. Nor would you walk into Best Buy and try to walk out with Guitar Hero, bypassing the cash register. Why? Is it because you might get caught? Or are there other issues, such as standards of morality, that dictate how you live your life.

The net, for all it’s charms, is also a dark and dangerous place. When you’re navigating it, you need to ask yourself this question: Is this right, just because it is so easy? You need to understand that quality entertainment costs a lot to create. And if there is no one paying for this content, it just won’t be made anymore. If no one bought tickets to a Lady Ga Ga show, she would not do the tour. That’s just how it works. For some reason, people don’t mind stealing their anime. I’m here to tell you flat out: This is wrong. You are doing something bad. And you need to stop it.

Again, So.

I’ve an excellent suggestion, one that will educate you about the process while simultaneously adding some black ink to Bang Zoom! Entertainment’s bottom line. Consider this to be a pledge drive of sorts, with it’s own very special “Thank You Gift” in the form of a DVD well worth the $20.

Go. Buy this DVD.

http://www.adventuresinvoiceacting.com/purchase

I’m not selling you a pig in a poke: you can go preview the first five chapters right now at Crunchyroll

Not only will your purchase benefit Bang Zoom! — a company that has recently, publicly noted they could use a bit more commerce — but you will also be in possession of one of the best recent documentaries on the production of American anime localizations, and if enough of us buy this first volume, it might prompt Bang Zoom! to release the next two planned DVDs in the series — I can only assume they are sitting on hours of interview footage and are waiting until it’s economically viable to do another DVD release. (these things cost money)

From their FAQ: “There are no other DVDs available anywhere in the world like this that we know of.”

Damn straight.

If nothing else, you need to see Lance Henriksen [yes, Bishop from Aliens and from the ’96-99 Fox show Millennium] talk about voice acting, and how it’s different from other aspects of the craft.

See, this is where it’s easy to make a difference:

Buy a DVD you know you want anyway. Prove that you’re an intellectual, reflective fan who is interested in the process (or interested in becoming part of that process as there really is no other tutorial available on how to become an anime dub VA) and simultaneously inject some capital directly into one of the few companies that produce quality dubs.

$20.

Two manga.
One DVD. (in fact, you get one DVD in this deal)
5 Starbucks.
3 Fast Food dinners.
24 beers, or two bottles (or one box) of wine.
Crap advertised on late-nite TV.
A single hardcover book.
116 packs of ramen. (OK, so this comparison is a little harsh)

Still: Can we find $20 in our budget this week for the best and indeed only documentary on the American Anime business? You owe it to yourself to own this DVD, and if nothing else, a spike in sales would shut Eric Sherman up.

Whether you like or hate him, it has to be worth the money, right?

http://www.adventuresinvoiceacting.com/purchase

An extended aside, & since no one else bothered:

A condensed review of the Emma anime adaptation.

The Emma anime is… fine. I enjoyed it but I stop just short of fully recommending it

• The pacing is leisurely. …that is to say, sloooooow. The first 12 ep. season corresponds to just the first 2 manga volumes — and the second 12 only get us up to volume 4, in practical terms, while borrowing bits and pieces of later chapters and side stories (all out of order) to kind of flesh it out, while introducing several new twists (and a substantially different ending) while still not introducing an actual sense of urgency.
• The only character who gains from adaptation is Hans. He has even more interaction with Emma than in the manga, and becomes, in effect, fully William’s rival. It’s not bad, particularly if one is a fan of Hans, but it is… different.
• There is no abduction. There is no fevered correspondence twixt Emma and William over the post. There is a shortening of the distance between E&W in fact (soon, moves back to London, little fuss) and instead of a long-distance longing with all its romantic frission, William ends up looking like a stalker.
• …worse, Emma becomes a blank: unable to decide, unable to commit, motives unknown — heck, one can’t even be sure if Emma loves anyone: Hans, William, or arse else besides.

Of course adaptations are, of course, adaptations. […if you can parse/grok that last statement.] But it’s a bit like the anime company stole the heart from the romance, and all we’re left with is beautiful, colorful depictions of Victorian England with even more attention to detail, with a lovely soundtrack (I almost recorded a podcast review just to feature clips from the soundtrack) and a satisfying but not quite perfect ending. In fact, the false ending of Volume 7 was better than the anime ending, even given the similarities (and I want an Emma OVA with the Volume 10 Ending right now. Chop chop. [*clap, clap*] C’mon Japan, make it happen.)

Let me back it up a half step and restate and re-emphasise at least one point: the anime is a beautiful, colorful depiction of Victorian England with even more attention to historical detail, matched with a lovely soundtrack

Other pros:

• While William’s new ‘quest’ in the second season is different from chasing across continents for Emma (which, as a plot device, always works) it does point out his commitment to family and ‘making things right’ and more fully illustrates the rivalry and conflict between houses Jones and Campbell — & these are valid plot points. [a tad dry, romantically, but certainly valid]
• There are some excellent [exceptionally rare, but excellent] scenes in later episodes where the voice and ghost? of Kelly Stownar advise (and provoke) Emma. (…with an excellent coda twixt Kelly and Al at the very end of episode 24)
• Expanded characterization (if not expanded roles) for the Jones siblings — though there is a nice bit where Arthur, grudgingly, helps his older brother at the last minute that plays not only into the plot-at-hand but also stays true to his established character.
• and lest the point get lost: As stated, the anime includes and in fact revels in historical details above and beyond what was presented in the manga. It’s like history porn.

Perhaps, had I watched the anime before reading the manga, I might be more forgiving: the last five volumes of the manga just blow the Emma anime out of the water. But, since the anime was most assuredly in development before Vol. 7 released (and long before vol. 10 was a twinkle in Mori’s eye) there are some things that had to be done, decisions to be made, to keep to the broadcast schedule.

• If you’re the sort who’d never read the manga anyway, then yes, I recommend the anime.
• If you’re a fan of the manga, and would like to see a slightly different retelling, I’d also recommend the anime.
• If you’re a history nut, buff, and/or trivia freak, then most assuredly believe me when I tell you you need to see the anime. (right down to the advertisements on the side of ‘omnibuses’ — there is detail in every frame)

So, summing up [and let’s link to the local licensee]
Emma, the anime is available in two box sets from Nozomi Entertainment [love those guys] and I’d like recommend it to you.

& Yes, I own these. That should be as much a recommendation as anything else.

If one is a fan of shojo romance [or action of any sort] you’ll find it lacking, but approaching the property from just about any other angle you’ll find it’s not only good, it’s really good.

Found:

Starting Point: 1979-1996
by Hiyao Miyazaki

Yeah.

released by Viz under the Ghibli Library imprint (natch), published August 2009, isbn 9781421505947

From the Publisher:

In the first two decades of his career, filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki laid the groundwork for his legendary movies. Starting Point is a collection of essays, interviews, and memoir that go back to the roots of Miyazaki’s childhood, the formulation of his theories of animation, and the founding of Studio Ghibli.

Before directing such acclaimed films as Spirited Away, Miyazaki was just another salaried animator, but with a vision of his own. Follow him as he takes his first steps on the road to success, experience his frustrations with the manga and animation industries that often suffocate creativity, and realize the importance of bringing the childhood dreams of the world to life.

The first of a two-volume series, Starting Point: 1979-1996 is not just a chronicle of the life of a man whose own dreams have come true, it is a tribute to the power of the moving image.

can’t believe I missed this; pointing this out for everyone (if you also missed this) is what the ‘found’ category is for.

More: www.rocketbomber.com/category/found/

I had hoped to get some work done on the much-delayed Graphic Novel & Manga Rankings over the next two days; but, like many a blogger, my plans go out the window as I can’t help being derailed by the business and financial transactions/distractions that have been announced this week. Even though I can be pretty sure I’ve nothing to add to the vast pool of conjecture spreading like a growing slime mold over the interblogs, I can’t help but add my 2 Yen.

[So long as I’m downshifting into full-on business-analysis mode, it may be time to revisit some other points of interest (Borders, last year’s publishing industry and sales stats, digital comics, scanlations and fansubs) — so anyway, my plate is pretty full.]

First up is the most recent, and in it’s own way, smallest news. Those of you camped out on the Comics side of Popular Visual Culture may not even have heard of it yet, and/or may not know enough about the company involved to have an opinion one way or the other.

##

There is the lovely title from the official press release (as reprinted by just about every anime blog, and currently the only thing you’ll see at the advfilms.com website)

A.D.VISION, INC. CONCLUDES SERIES OF ASSET TRANSACTIONS

Oooo. Exciting. The all-caps gives me chills. Reprinted here in it’s entirety:

HOUSTON, September 1, 2009 — A.D. VISION, INC. (“ADV” or the “Company”) announced today that June 1, 2009, the Company concluded a series of transactions that are expected to result in seamless delivery of home video products and television programming to customers.

Through an asset purchase agreement, AEsir Holdings, LLC (“Aesir”) acquired a subordinated interest in selected programming from ADV’s film library together with other intellectual property subject to all liens and security interests of the Company’s senior secured lender. The transaction requires Aesir to assume specific obligations and scheduled liabilities of the Company under legacy license agreements associated with the acquired programming.

Concurrently, the Company concluded an asset purchase agreement with SXION 23, LLC, doing business as “Section23 Films,” a home video distribution company, under which it assumes account servicing and distribution operations in connection with the library acquired by Aesir, subject to all liens and security interest of the Company’s senior secured lender.

John Ledford, ADV’s President and CEO, states “We believe the actions we initiated and completed provided the same or more value to the Company’s secured lender and its programming licensors while giving other key stakeholders such as employees and customers some potential value or the reasonable probability of realizing value.”

In a separate transaction, Valkyrie Media Partners, LLC (“Valkyrie”) acquired a 100% equity position in Anime Network, Inc. (“ANI”), formerly ADV’s television unit, pursuant to a stock purchase agreement between ADV and Valkyrie. That transaction includes an assumption by Valkyrie of specific liens and security interests of the Company’s senior secured lender.

In another separate transaction, Seraphim Studios, LLC acquired Amusement Park Media, the production unit of A.D. Vision, Inc.

Further announcements are expected from the respective acquiring entities over the coming days.

RIP ADV:

• The Wikipedia Entry has already been edited (I checked at 9PM) to reflect the press release of this morning
• The Wayback Machine has archives of the ADV site, but nothing more recent than 2007. Here’s the front page, the website site map, and the ‘about us’ page from ADV circa Oct. 2007.
• As linked above, there’s naught but this on the ADV website now.

Anime News Network:
(I hope they don’t get mad at me for linking so extensively and deeply to their site)

• Here’s ANN’s news story on the move.

Also culled from ANN: A partial timeline of what went wrong

• ADV/Sojitz
• ADV loses Newtype, starts PiQ
• ADV closes PiQ
• ADV holds yard sale for ready cash
• FUNimation picks up former ADV/Sojitz titles
• ADV announces the first distro deal for a ‘new’ company, Sentai Filmworks
• Sojitz dissolves the company (one of two companies, actually) that it set up just for the ADV deal
• which doesn’t affect the new deals FUNimation made earlier regarding these titles

After that, things were quiet for about a year. This morning, ANN had the news story, followed in the afternoon by an Editorial

Other news and views:

Anime Vice had two posts with the facts (as we knew them) along with Gia’s attempts to contact someone at ADV for a clarification or comment — and one of the commentors on the first Vice post (scottfrye) gave a helpful pointer to a blog post by Robert of Robert’s Anime Corner Store with the first confirmation and some other inside baseball on the deal.

EDIT 23:20pm: Simon Jones at Icarus Publishing [NSFW, usually; recommended anyway] also has his first thoughts on ADV (plus some additional commentary on the other business news of the week).

And I’m sure every other anime blog will have analysis and commentary (just like this post) by tomorrow morning, or midnight tonight — right now most are just re-printing the official press release (just like I did above).

##

I like the phrase from the official announcement, “liens and security interests of the Company’s senior secured lender.” It’s the most telling bit. It was repeated 3 times, verbatim, in the press release. (Yeah, the names of the new companies are nice and all, but this is part of the back-room business — and the only part that is showing)

If ADV were *really* gone, and the bits and pieces put up for auction for whatever the open market would pay for them, that “Senior Secured Lender” is the one who would be paid first and in full. Since ADV isn’t a publicly traded company—with the associated required SEC filings and reports—we have no idea who this mystery creditor is. Maybe ADV had a multi-million dollar line of credit at some bank (or made similar arrangements with a venture capitalist) and the terms of the loan finally came due. Could be.

If I had to make a bet — I think this is still fallout from the Sojitz deal of ’06: Even after that went sour, Sojitz (and their partners Klockworx and the Bank of Japan) still had 20% ownership of ADV, a point Christopher Macdonald brought up in that ANN editorial I linked to above.

Maybe they convinced Sojitz/JCI to convert the 20% into a ‘loan’ — and then made the move to either kick out John Ledford (basically buying the company out from underneath him) or to shrug off other liabilities. Maybe the un-named “Senior” already bought the Sojitz/JCI share (no need to consult with ADV if Sojitz was motivated to sell) and used the ownership stake as leverage to force a deal that they felt would be best — for the future, or for the bottom line.

Here’s my take on it, and something I doubt any of the new units will report in their upcoming ‘introductions’ to the market:

The “transfer of assets” was in fact a buyout, officially sanctioned by (if not initiated by) the Senior Secured Lender.

The split of assets in these four new parts —

• film library & licenses,
• DVD production, sales, and order fulfillment,
• recording studio (+ localization, scripting, and casting),
• and cable TV Anime Network
  
  — is likely designed to isolate each against future losses (or even failure) of one of the other components.

Abandoning the ADV label is necessary as:
a) a way to present a new face to potential Japanese partners & licensors who have been literally burned or otherwise turned off by “ADV”;
b) a legal dodge;
c) the A.D. Vision and ADV names are owned by a party who would not concede to the sale, so it was done as a ‘transfer of assets’ rather than the sale of the company entire;
d) a way to break clean with the past and present something new to the fans (possible; but hard to gauge: I thought most fans liked ADV—or had fond memories from a few years back);

and of course, some or all of the above

In the new schema: Aesir is responsible for lining up new licenses, Seraphim Studios will be responsible for localization and dubs, Section 23 manufactures the discs and ships them out to retailers (possible also with direct sales to fans via the internet — we’ll see) and Valkyrie deals with Aesir to get the licensed properties onto cable TV. Presumably, Section 23 will also be still be working with Sentai Filmworks and Switchblade Films for their DVD releases.

(I’m intentionally ignoring their stupid misspellings and d/b/a’s from the press release — “SXION 23” and “AEsir” are as sure a sign as anything else that someone with an “A.D. Vision d/b/a/ ADV” sensibility is still working behind the scenes here.)

The other up-shot is that Aesir could get Bang Zoom! or Coastal Studios to do a dub, Section 23 could ink a deal with Right Stuf for DVD production, Seraphim could take on translation & dubbing assignments from any licensee (a direct deal with Cartoon Network for new anime, or JDrama releases in English on DVD, anyone?) and most obviously: The Anime Network under new, independent, non-ADV ownership is ideally positioned to actually become an anime network — neh, the anime cable network, with a couple of deals with additional cable providers to extend their reach (perhaps even into basic extended cable packages… Oooo…) and some smart moves with regard to content.

Let me just point out that if AN-as-owned-by-Valkyrie made a deal with Right Stuf/Nozomi to show Aria, Tylor, & Emma (and there are others; a lot of series I love have been picked up by Nozomi, but start with those) and retained the ADV titles (along with the CPM license pickups) then they’d be a damn fine competitor for the FUNimation Channel. It’d be a horse race. Actually, I’d like to see both win.

And while these are separate companies now…

In 2011 or 2012 I wouldn’t be surprised if, say, Asgard Digital Ventures bought up Aesir, Valkyrie, and Section 23 (renamed Bifrost in early 2010) to bring everything back under a single corporate umbrella. but then, I’m a cynical bastard who thinks this whole maneuver is just for show to begin with.

Since they’re new, I thought I might lead this week with the anime numbers.
(Manga charts follow tomorrow)

Before I bore the hell out of you with notes on methodology, here’s the top 10 a top 25

Top Anime Properties
based on online DVD sales

1. Studio Ghibli Films [356.63] ::
2. Dragon Ball [325.1] ::
3. Naruto [271.39] ::
4. Bleach [238.99] ::
5. Yu Yu Hakusho [215.66] ::
6. Final Fantasy [212.8] ::
7. Fullmetal Alchemist [199.38] ::
8. Ouran High School Host Club [188.1] ::
9. Death Note [158.5] ::
10. Mobile Suit Gundam [138.49] ::
11. Ghost in the Shell [124.18] ::
12. Pokemon [118.81] ::
13. Inuyasha [118.22] ::
14. Voltron [104.76] ::
15. Cowboy Bebop [102.38] ::
16. Hellsing [94.17] ::
17. Bakugan [89.3] ::
18. Avatar: The Last Airbender [88.24] ::
19. Vampire Hunter D [84.5] ::
20. Shin Chan [82.3] ::
21. Paprika [81] ::
22. Afro Samurai [80.23] ::
23. Appleseed [78.8] ::
24. Full Metal Panic [78.25] ::
25. Daft Punk: Interstella 5555 [68.6] ::

Sources:

Similarly to the manga chart, I’ve selected three sources as my ‘leads’, and checked the top 300 DVDs from each:

BestBuy.com — Fye.com — Amazon’s Anime Category

Secondary charts only contribute a top 100, but I checked Amazon’s bestsellers on three occasions:

Amazon’s Hourly Bestsellers — BN.com — Borders.com — Buy.com — DeepDiscount.com — Overstock.com

You’ll note there is a difference between these sources and the sites (AnimeNation, Anime Corner, Right Stuf, et al.) where you and I will often buy DVDs. There is a difference between a good anime sales site, and a site that has the information I need to run the charts — Primarily, I need at least 100 bestsellers (not 5, and not ‘helpfully’ divided into categories) or even better a listing of all anime DVDs that can be sorted by sales or popularity, so I can go through and pull listings until I’m sick of the data entry. The sites that fit the qualifications tend to be boring, mainstream retailers. But while porn isn’t as highly ranked as I hoped feared, surprisingly, it’s still in there.

The other thing that might jump out at you is the odd way I list some titles. Part of that is to speed data entry, part of it is to smooth out differences between sites, and part of it is to provide a real sense of what an item is. Complete Collection, Platinum Collectors Edition, Anime Legends, Viridian Edition — we’ll just call ‘em all box sets.

some 2 disc sets also get a single ‘volume’ label if, in fact, all the releases in the sequence are special 2 disc sets. I could explain every decision but maybe I’ll just show you the list:

Top 500 Anime DVD Releases
based on online sales

1. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (movie) [167.5] ::
2. Studio Ghibli Films Spirited Away [153.5] ::
3. Studio Ghibli Films My Neighbor Totoro [148.4] ::
4. Studio Ghibli Films Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind [133.9] ::
5. Studio Ghibli Films Princess Mononoke [132.3] ::
6. Studio Ghibli Films Kiki’s Delivery Service [129.5] ::
7. Studio Ghibli Films Castle in the Sky [128.3] ::
8. Cowboy Bebop Remix box set [124.6] ::
9. Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 3 box set [124.2] ::
10. Bleach box set 1 [124.1] ::
11. Dragon Ball Z Season 6 box set [123] ::
12. Death Note vol 8 [118.8] ::
13. Dragon Ball Z Season 2 box set [116] ::
14. Dragon Ball Z Season 7 box set [115] ::
15. Yu Yu Hakusho Season 2 box set [114.9] ::
16. Dragon Ball Z Season 3 box set [112.6] ::
17. Studio Ghibli Films Howl’s Moving Castle [111.3] ::
18. Mobile Suit Gundam Wing box set 1 [110.7] ::
19. Bleach (movie) Memories of Nobody [110.3] ::
20. Dragon Ball Z Season 5 box set [108.8] ::
21. Bleach box set 2 [107.5] ::
22. Dragon Ball Z Season 4 box set [107.3] ::
23. Yu Yu Hakusho Season 4 box set [107.1] ::
24. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 box set [103.2] ::
25. Yu Yu Hakusho Season 3 box set [101.3] ::
26. Ouran High School Host Club Season 1 part 1 [100.6] ::
27. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 box set [97.9] ::
28. Naruto (movie) Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom [93.1] ::
29. Naruto (movie) Legend of the Stone of Gelel [91.9] ::
30. Naruto Uncut box set 11 [91.6] ::
31. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 2 part 2 [88.9] ::
32. Studio Ghibli Films The Cat Returns [88.7] ::
33. Death Note box set 1 [88.2] ::
34. Ouran High School Host Club Season 1 part 2 [87.5] ::
35. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 2 part 1 [85] ::
36. Naruto Uncut box set 1 [84.5] ::
37. Heavy Metal Collector’s Edition [84] ::
38. Appleseed Ex Machina (movie) [81.9] ::
39. Bakugan vol 2 [80.1] ::
40. Naruto Uncut box set 3 [79.3] ::
41. Naruto Uncut box set 9 [77.6] ::
42. Hellsing Ultimate vol 4 [76.2] ::
43. Ghost in the Shell (movie) [76.1] ::
44. Cowboy Bebop (movie) [76] ::
45. Pokemon (movie) The Rise of Darkrai [74] ::
46. Samurai 7 box set [73.9] ::
47. Yu Yu Hakusho Season 1 box set [72.6] ::
48. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 part 1 [72.5] ::
49. Fullmetal Alchemist (movie) The Conqueror of Shamballa [72] ::
50. Naruto Uncut box set 2 [71] ::
51. Studio Ghibli Films Whisper of the Heart [69.9] ::
52. Daft Punk: Interstella 5555 [68.6] ::
53. Ninja Scroll (movie) [68.5] ::
54. Noein: To Your Other Self box set [67.7] ::
55. Bakugan vol 1 [67.6] ::
56. Studio Ghibli Films Porco Rosso [67.5] ::
57. Naruto Uncut box set 7 [64.8] ::
58. Hellsing Ultimate vol 3 [64.4] ::
59. Fullmetal Alchemist Season 1 part 2 [64.2] ::
60. Naruto Uncut box set 12 [63.5] ::
61. Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (movie) Endless Waltz [63.4] ::
62. Paprika (movie) [62] ::
63. Naruto Uncut box set 10 [61.6] ::
64. Elfen Lied Diclonius Report box set [60] ::
65. Naruto Uncut box set 8 [60] ::
66. Dragon Ball Z (movie) Double Feature Trunks/Bardock [59.2] ::
67. Appleseed Ex Machina (movie) Blu-ray [58.6] ::
68. Afro Samurai Director’s Cut Blu-ray [57.5] ::
69. Transformers (movie) (no, the animated one) [56.8] ::
70. Ghost in the Shell (movie) 2 Innocence Blu-ray [54.9] ::
71. The Triplets of Belleville [54.5] ::
72. Afro Samurai Director’s Cut [54.2] ::
73. Lucky Star vol 5 [52.8] ::
74. Robotech Protoculture Collection [52.1] ::
75. Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex Season 2 2 box set [52] ::
76. Pokemon Season 1 box set 1 [51.6] ::
77. Voltron vol 5 [50.9] ::
78. Full Metal Panic box set [50.3] ::
79. Bleach vol 13 [50.2] ::
80. Naruto (movie) Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow [50.2] ::
81. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (movie) [49.9] ::
82. Dragon Ball Z (movie) Fusion Reborn [48] ::
83. Animatrix [47.8] ::
84. Tokko box set [47.8] ::
85. Voltron vol 6 [47.8] ::
86. Dragon Ball Z Season 8 box set [47.6] ::
87. Berserk box set [47.3] ::
88. Shin Chan Season 1 part 2 [47.1] ::
89. ROD Read or Die OVA [46.9] ::
90. Voltron vol 1 [46.4] ::
91. Akira (movie) Blu-ray [46.3] ::
92. Inuyasha Season 6 6 box set [46.2] ::
93. Mobile Suit Gundam Wing box set 2 [46.1] ::
94. Full Metal Panic Fumoffu box set [45.7] ::
95. One Piece Season 1 part 2 [45.6] ::
96. Outlaw Star box set [45.6] ::
97. Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust (movie) [45.4] ::
98. Final Fantasy The Spirits Within (movie) [45.3] ::
99. Black Lagoon Season 1 box set [45] ::
100. Fullmetal Alchemist vol 7 [45] ::
101. Death Note vol 6 [44.2] ::
102. Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex Season 2 box set [44.2] ::
103. Azumanga Daioh box set [43.9] ::
104. Inuyasha (movie) Swords of an Honorable Ruler [43.7] ::
105. Mushishi box set [43] ::
106. Dragon Ball GT Season 1 box set [42.8] ::
107. Naruto Uncut box set 6 [42.6] ::
108. Death Note vol 9 [42.5] ::
109. Pokemon (movie) Mewtwo vs. Mew [42] ::
110. Death Note vol 7 [41.9] ::
111. Inuyasha (movie) Affections Touching Across Time [41.5] ::
112. Ah! My Goddess Season 2 box set [41.4] ::
113. Inuyasha Season 5 box set [41.4] ::
114. My-HiME box set [41.3] ::
115. Kyo Kara Maoh vol 9 [41.1] ::
116. Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya box set [41] ::
117. Claymore vol 2 [40.8] ::
118. Neon Genesis Evangelion box set [40.5] ::
119. Fullmetal Alchemist vol 5 [39.7] ::
120. Devil May Cry vol 3 [39.3] ::
121. Fullmetal Alchemist vol 4 [39.2] ::
122. Vampire Hunter D (movie) [39.1] ::
123. Mobile Suit Gundam G-Gundam box set 1 [38.9] ::
124. Fruits Basket box set [37.8] ::
125. Inuyasha Complete Movies box set [37.8] ::
126. Inuyasha Season 6 box set [37.2] ::
127. Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 1 box set [37] ::
128. Death Note (live action movie) [36.9] ::
129. Dragon Ball GT Season 1 box set [36.5] ::
130. Ranma ½ Season 1 box set [36.3] ::
131. Blood: The Last Vampire [36] ::
132. Case Closed Season 1 box set [36] ::
133. Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex Season 1 box set [35.9] ::
134. Death Note vol 3 [35.2] ::
135. Shin Chan Season 1 part 1 [35.2] ::
136. Karas box set [35.1] ::
137. Ghost in the Shell (movie) 2 Innocence [34.5] ::
138. Tsubasa vol 10 [34.5] ::
139. Anyone You Can Do I Can Do Better [34] ::
140. Lupin the III The Castle of Cagliostro (movie) [33.8] ::
141. Trinity Blood box set [33.6] ::
142. Slayers Season 2 box set [33.5] ::
143. Yu-Gi-Oh Season 3 box set [33.5] ::
144. Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion Season 1 part 2 [33.3] ::
145. Inuyasha (movie) The Castle Behind the Looking Glass [33.2] ::
146. Perfect Blue (movie) [32.9] ::
147. Bleach vol 14 [32.5] ::
148. Angel Blade Punish [32.4] ::
149. Inuyasha Season 1 box set [32.3] ::
150. It’s a Family Affair vol 2 [32] ::
151. Silent Mobius (movie) [31.6] ::
152. Black Lagoon Season 2 vol 2 [31.5] ::
153. Vexille (movie) Blu-ray [31.5] ::
154. Fruits Basket vol 1 [31.4] ::
155. Slayers Season 3 box set [31.4] ::
156. Gurren Lagann part 1 [31.3] ::
157. Voltron vol 2 [31.2] ::
158. Death Note (live action movie) 2 The Last Name [31.1] ::
159. Heavy Metal 2000 (movie) [31.1] ::
160. Naruto Uncut box set 4 [30.9] ::
161. Rune Soldier box set [30.9] ::
162. Wolf’s Rain box set [30.9] ::
163. Desert Punk box set [30.7] ::
164. Fullmetal Alchemist vol 2 [30.5] ::
165. Black Blood Brothers box set [30.3] ::
166. Lyrical Nanoha A box set [30.3] ::
167. Slayers Season 1 box set [30.3] ::
168. Case Closed Season 2 box set [30.1] ::
169. Tokyo Godfathers (movie) [30.1] ::
170. Dragon Ball Z (movie) Double Feature Cooler’s Revenge/The Return of Cooler [29.9] ::
171. Vexille (movie) [29.9] ::
172. Naruto Uncut box set 5 [29.7] ::
173. Coyote Ragtime Show box set [29.6] ::
174. Loveless box set [29.6] ::
175. Dragon Ball GT Season 2 box set [29.5] ::
176. Fullmetal Alchemist vol 13 [29.3] ::
177. The Twelve Kingdoms box set 2 [29.3] ::
178. Dragon Ball Z (movie) Tree of Might/Lord Slug Double Feature [29.2] ::
179. Mobile Suit Gundam Seed box set 1 [29.1] ::
180. Fullmetal Alchemist vol 8 [29] ::
181. Tsubasa Season 1 box set [29] ::
182. Escaflowne (movie) [28.8] ::
183. Mobile Suit Gundam Seed box set 2 [28.8] ::
184. Witchblade box set [28.7] ::
185. Fruits Basket vol 2 [28.6] ::
186. Buso Renkin box set 2 [28.5] ::
187. Karin vol 6 [28.5] ::
188. Destroy All Monsters [28.3] ::
189. Rozen Maiden Traumend vol 3 [28.1] ::
190. Sexy Sailor Soldiers [28.1] ::
191. Aeon Flux box set [28] ::
192. Lyrical Nanoha box set [28] ::
193. Rurouni Kenshin Season 2 box set [28] ::
194. Mobile Suit Gundam G-Gundam box set 2 [27.8] ::
195. Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 1 vol 1 [27.7] ::
196. Hellsing Ultimate vol 1 [27.7] ::
197. Perverse Investigations [27.7] ::
198. Fullmetal Alchemist vol 11 [27.5] ::
199. The Familiar of Zero box set [27.5] ::
200. Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion Season 1 part 1 [27.4] ::
201. Fruits Basket vol 3 [27.4] ::
202. Fruits Basket vol 4 [27.4] ::
203. Street Fighter II (movie) (no, the animated one) [27.4] ::
204. Like Mother Like Daughter [27.3] ::
205. Rurouni Kenshin Season 3 box set [27.3] ::
206. Case Closed Season 3 box set [27.2] ::
207. Bible Black New Testament vol 1 [26.8] ::
208. Bleach vol 12 [26.8] ::
209. Speed Racer vol 1 [26.8] ::
210. Origin: Spirits of the Past (movie) [26.6] ::
211. Witch Hunter Robin box set [26.6] ::
212. It’s a Family Affair vol 1 [26.5] ::
213. Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 3 vol 3 [26.4] ::
214. Milf Mansion [26.4] ::
215. Genshiken box set [26.3] ::
216. Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 3 vol 4 [26.2] ::
217. Millennium Actress (movie) [26.2] ::
218. Karas The Revelation [26] ::
219. One Piece Season 1 part 1 [25.8] ::
220. Sleazy Family [25.8] ::
221. Excel Saga box set [25.7] ::
222. Voltron vol 4 [25.7] ::
223. Servant Princess [25.5] ::
224. Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion vol 2 [25.4] ::
225. Bible Black New Testament vol 2 [25.3] ::
226. Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny vol 12 [25.3] ::
227. Pokemon (movie) Lucario and the Myster of Mew [25.3] ::
228. Crest of the Stars Banner of the Stars box set [25.2] ::
229. Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny vol 4 [25.1] ::
230. When They Cry vol 6 [25.1] ::
231. Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny (movie) TV Movie II [24.9] ::
232. Steamboy (movie) [24.9] ::
233. Humiliated Wives [24.8] ::
234. Inuyasha Season 2 box set [24.8] ::
235. Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 1 vol 2 [24.7] ::
236. Fullmetal Alchemist vol 6 [24.7] ::
237. Kyo Kara Maoh vol 8 [24.5] ::
238. Gurren Lagann part 2 [24.4] ::
239. Welcome to the NHK Season 1 part 2 [24.4] ::
240. DNAngel box set [24.3] ::
241. Full Metal Panic The Second Raid box set [24] ::
242. Gurren Lagann vol 2 [23.6] ::
243. Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 1 vol 5 [23.4] ::
244. Blue Gender box set [23.4] ::
245. Eureka Seven vol 11 [23.4] ::
246. Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 1 vol 3 [23.3] ::
247. Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 3 vol 2 [23.1] ::
248. Karin vol 5 [23.1] ::
249. Elfen Lied vol 3 [23] ::
250. Ergo Proxy box set [22.9] ::
251. My Brother’s Wife [22.9] ::
252. Pokemon (movie) Destiny Deoxys [22.8] ::
253. Negima Season 2 part 1 [22.7] ::
254. Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 vol 2 [22.6] ::
255. FLCL box set [22.6] ::
256. To Heart box set [22.5] ::
257. When They Cry vol 4 [22.3] ::
258. Angelium [22.2] ::
259. Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex Solid State Society [22.2] ::
260. Bible Black vol 1 [22] ::
261. Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny vol 3 [21.9] ::
262. Afro Samurai Resurrection Director’s Cut Blu-ray [21.8] ::
263. Bakugan 2 disc set [21.7] ::
264. Neon Genesis Evangelion vol 7 [21.7] ::
265. Death Note vol 4 [21.6] ::
266. Golden Boy box set [21.6] ::
267. Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 3 vol 1 [21.5] ::
268. One Piece Season 1 part 3 [21.4] ::
269. Speed Racer vol 2 [21.4] ::
270. Kitaro (movie) Blu-ray [21.3] ::
271. Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 vol 1 [21.2] ::
272. Naruto vol 1 [21.2] ::
273. Full Metal Panic Fumoffu vol 4 [21.1] ::
274. Full Metal Panic Fumoffu vol 3 [21] ::
275. Voltron vol 7 [21] ::
276. Witchblade vol 4 [21] ::
277. Witchblade vol 5 [21] ::
278. Naruto vol 31 [20.9] ::
279. Crest of the Stars Banner of the Stars II box set [20.8] ::
280. Neon Genesis Evangelion vol 6 [20.8] ::
281. Panty Flash Teacher [20.8] ::
282. Cowboy Bebop vol 3 [20.7] ::
283. Death Note vol 2 [20.6] ::
284. Escaflowne box set [20.4] ::
285. Samurai Deeper Kyo box set [20.3] ::
286. Taboo Charming Mother vol 1 [20.3] ::
287. Appleseed (movie) [20.2] ::
288. Robotech The Shadow Chronicles (movie) Blu-ray [20.2] ::
289. TEKKONKINKREET (movie) [20.2] ::
290. .hack// Roots vol 1 [20.1] ::
291. Darker Than Black vol 1 [20.1] ::
292. Bible Black vol 2 [20] ::
293. Naruto vol 2 [20] ::
294. Samurai X OVA Collection [20] ::
295. Bible Black vol 3 [19.9] ::
296. Black Cat box set [19.8] ::
297. Samurai 7 vol 4 [19.8] ::
298. Lucky Star vol 1 [19.7] ::
299. Sonic X vol 8 [19.7] ::
300. Death Note vol 1 [19.6] ::
301. Bleach vol 1 [19.5] ::
302. Devil May Cry vol 2 [19.5] ::
303. Naruto OVA The Lost Story [19.5] ::
304. Pokemon Season 1 box set [19.5] ::
305. Naruto vol 29 [19.3] ::
306. Samurai Champloo vol 7 [19.3] ::
307. Dragon Ball Z (movie) Double Feature Dead Zone/World’s Stongest [19.2] ::
308. Eureka Seven vol 1 [19.2] ::
309. Foxy Nudes [19.2] ::
310. Ah! My Goddess vol 4 [19.1] ::
311. Pokemon (movie) 2000 [19.1] ::
312. Paprika (movie) Blu-ray [19] ::
313. Witchblade vol 2 [19] ::
314. Pokemon Season 1 box set 2 [18.8] ::
315. Inuyasha vol 43 [18.7] ::
316. Kanon vol 6 [18.7] ::
317. Voltron vol 3 [18.7] ::
318. Kyo Kara Maoh vol 7 [18.6] ::
319. Samurai 7 vol 5 [18.5] ::
320. Tsubasa vol 4 [18.4] ::
321. Gunslinger Girl box set [18.3] ::
322. Inuyasha Season 1 1 box set [18.3] ::
323. Naruto vol 32 [18.3] ::
324. Dragon Ball Z Movie 3 Pack [18.1] ::
325. Sex Friends [18] ::
326. Gunbuster vs Diebuster box set [17.9] ::
327. Captain N: The Game Master box set [17.8] ::
328. Pokemon (movie) 3 [17.8] ::
329. Inuyasha (movie) Fire on the Mystic Island [17.7] ::
330. Ah! My Goddess vol 6 [17.6] ::
331. Street Fighter 3 disc set [17.6] ::
332. Xenosaga box set [17.6] ::
333. Dragon Ball Z (movie) Super Android 13 [17.5] ::
334. Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex Season 1 1 box set [17.5] ::
335. Maburaho vol 7 [17.5] ::
336. When They Cry vol 5 [17.4] ::
337. Dragon Ball GT box set 1 [17.3] ::
338. xxxHolic vol 5 [17.3] ::
339. Rahxephon box set [17.2] ::
340. xxxHolic vol 6 [17.2] ::
341. Bible Black vol 4 [17] ::
342. Black Lagoon Season 2 vol 1 [16.9] ::
343. Heavy Metal (movie) [16.9] ::
344. 5 Centimeters Per Second (movie) [16.8] ::
345. Aquarion Season 1 part 1 [16.8] ::
346. Burst Angel box set [16.8] ::
347. Digimon (movie) [16.7] ::
348. Pokemon Diamond & Pearl box set 1 [16.7] ::
349. Witchblade vol 3 [16.6] ::
350. Bleach vol 7 [16.5] ::
351. Blood+ Season 1 box set [16.5] ::
352. Bleach vol 10 [16.4] ::
353. Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny vol 10 [16.3] ::
354. Vanilla 2 Pack: Girl Next Door/I Love You [16.2] ::
355. Loveless vol 1 [15.9] ::
356. .hack// Sign box set [15.8] ::
357. Studio Ghibli Films Pom Poko [15.8] ::
358. Tenchi Muyo Ryo Ohki vol 1 [15.8] ::
359. Full Metal Panic Fumoffu vol 2 [15.7] ::
360. Pokemon (movie) Pokemon Ranger & The Temple of the Sea [15.7] ::
361. Elfen Lied vol 2 [15.6] ::
362. Kirby Cappy New Year & Other Adventures [15.6] ::
363. Magic Knight Rayearth box set 1 [15.6] ::
364. Inuyasha Season 3 box set [15.4] ::
365. Welcome to the NHK Season 1 part 1 [15.4] ::
366. GTO Great Teacher Onizuka box set 2 [15.3] ::
367. Animusic 1 [15.2] ::
368. Tenchi Muyo Ryo Ohki vol 2 [15.1] ::
369. Ah! My Goddess vol 5 [15] ::
370. Inuyasha Season 5 5 box set [15] ::
371. Dragon Ball GT Season 2 box set [14.9] ::
372. Magic Knight Rayearth box set 2 [14.9] ::
373. Princess Tutu box set [14.9] ::
374. Kino’s Journey box set [14.7] ::
375. Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny vol 11 [14.6] ::
376. GTO Great Teacher Onizuka box set 1 [14.5] ::
377. Pokemon Battle Frontier box set [14.5] ::
378. xxxHolic vol 2 [14.5] ::
379. Fullmetal Alchemist vol 10 [14.3] ::
380. Rumbling Hearts box set [14.3] ::
381. Two Facials of Eve [14.2] ::
382. Gantz vol 10 [14.1] ::
383. School of Masochists [14.1] ::
384. TEKKONKINKREET (movie) Blu-ray [14.1] ::
385. Cowboy Bebop Remix vol 3 [14] ::
386. Dragon Ball box set [14] ::
387. Pokemon Season 1 box set 3 [14] ::
388. Samurai 7 vol 3 [14] ::
389. Shuffle vol 3 [14] ::
390. Shuffle vol 5 [13.9] ::
391. Neon Genesis Evangelion Death & Rebirth/The End of Evangelion [13.8] ::
392. Perverted Thomas [13.8] ::
393. Maburaho vol 1 [13.7] ::
394. Naruto vol 28 [13.6] ::
395. Neon Genesis Evangelion vol 5 [13.6] ::
396. Strawberry Panic vol 5 [13.6] ::
397. Hellsing box set [13.5] ::
398. Neon Genesis Evangelion vol 4 [13.5] ::
399. Prince of Tennis box set 2 [13.5] ::
400. Tsubasa vol 5 [13.4] ::
401. Cowboy Bebop Remix vol 2 [13.3] ::
402. Cowboy Bebop vol 1 [13.3] ::
403. Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 vol 4 [13] ::
404. Pokemon (movie) : 4Ever [13] ::
405. Devil May Cry vol 1 [12.9] ::
406. xxxHolic vol 4 [12.8] ::
407. Dragon Ball Z (movie) Double Feature Broly/Broly: Second Coming [12.7] ::
408. Iria box set [12.7] ::
409. Shinobi (movie) [12.7] ::
410. Black Blood Brothers vol 1 [12.6] ::
411. Black Blood Brothers vol 2 [12.5] ::
412. Maburaho box set [12.5] ::
413. Samurai 7 vol 6 [12.5] ::
414. Black Lagoon Season 1 part 1 [12.3] ::
415. Midori Days box set [12.3] ::
416. Negima Spring & Summer Specials [12.2] ::
417. Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 box set [12.1] ::
418. Inuyasha Season 2 2 box set [12.1] ::
419. Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion vol 1 [12] ::
420. Pokemon Diamond & Pearl box set 2 [12] ::
421. Robotech vol 6 [12] ::
422. Darker Than Black vol 1 w/ Artbox [11.8] ::
423. Afro Samurai Blu-ray [11.7] ::
424. Death Note vol 5 [11.6] ::
425. Dragon Ball Z (movie) : Bojack Unbound [11.6] ::
426. Pokemon (movie) Pokemon Heroes [11.6] ::
427. Gurren Lagann vol 1 w/ Artbox [11.5] ::
428. Sonic X Season 1 box set [11.4] ::
429. Street Fighter II V box set [11.4] ::
430. Do You Know the Milfing Man? [11.3] ::
431. Ranma ½ Season 6 box set [11.3] ::
432. Saiunkoku Season 1 part 2 [11.3] ::
433. Bleach vol 5 [11.2] ::
434. Blue Submarine No. 6 box set [11.2] ::
435. Fate/Stay Night box set [11.1] ::
436. Black Lagoon Season 2 vol 3 [11] ::
437. The Twelve Kingdoms box set 1 [11] ::
438. Bleach vol 4 [10.9] ::
439. Animusic 2 [10.8] ::
440. Full Metal Panic The Second Raid vol 3 [10.7] ::
441. Shana box set [10.6] ::
442. Ultraman Season 1 box set [10.6] ::
443. Maburaho vol 6 [10.5] ::
444. The Gokusen box set [10.5] ::
445. Freedom box set Blu-ray [10.4] ::
446. Gurren Lagann vol 1 [10.4] ::
447. Wedding Peach Season 1 box set [10.4] ::
448. Mobile Suit Gundam 0080 box set [10.3] ::
449. Samurai 7 vol 1 [10.3] ::
450. Cowboy Bebop Remix vol 1 [10.2] ::
451. Haruka Beyond the Stream of Time vol 9 [10.2] ::
452. Macross Plus (movie) [10.2] ::
453. Noir box set [10.2] ::
454. Hell Girl vol 1 [10.1] ::
455. Akira (movie) [10] ::
456. Internal Medicine [10] ::
457. Robotech vol 7 [10] ::
458. Dragon Ball Z (movie) Double Feature Tree of Might/Lord Slug [9.9] ::
459. Gurren Lagann part 3 [9.9] ::
460. Macross Plus box set [9.9] ::
461. Speed Racer box set [9.9] ::
462. Karin vol 4 [9.8] ::
463. Night Shift Nurses Kranke vol 1 [9.8] ::
464. Witchblade vol 6 [9.8] ::
465. Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 box set [9.7] ::
466. Kitaro (movie) [9.7] ::
467. Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya vol 4 [9.7] ::
468. Kite Liberator [9.6] ::
469. Cool Devices vol 3 [9.5] ::
470. Lucky Star vol 3 [9.5] ::
471. Clamp Double Feature: Tsubasa Chronicle and xxxHOLiC (movie) [9.4] ::
472. Initial D Season 2 box set [9.4] ::
473. Samurai Champloo box set [9.4] ::
474. Sensitive Pornograph [9.4] ::
475. Weather Report Girl [9.4] ::
476. DNA Hunter box set [9.3] ::
477. Akiba Girls vol 3 [9.2] ::
478. Full Metal Panic The Second Raid vol 4 [9.2] ::
479. Kamikaze Girls (live action movie) [9.2] ::
480. Marin a Go-Go [9.2] ::
481. Office Affairs & Co-Ed Affairs [9.2] ::
482. Prince of Tennis box set 1 [9.2] ::
483. Best of Kitty vol 2 [9.1] ::
484. Bleach vol 2 [9.1] ::
485. Hello Kitty Becomes a Princess [9.1] ::
486. Martian Successor Nadesico box set [9.1] ::
487. F3: Frantic, Frustrated, Female [9] ::
488. Milk Money [9] ::
489. Kite & Mezzo 2 disc set [8.9] ::
490. Moonphase box set [8.9] ::
491. Naruto vol 5 [8.9] ::
492. Yaji & Kita: The Midnight Pilgrims [8.9] ::
493. After Class Lesson vol 3 [8.8] ::
494. Galaxy Angel box set [8.8] ::
495. Moribtio 2 disc set [8.8] ::
496. Sonic X vol 14 [8.8] ::
497. Baki the Grappler vol 7 [8.7] ::
498. Insatiable vol 1 [8.7] ::
499. Kite (movie) [8.7] ::
500. Mouse 2 disc set [8.7] ::

There is some immediate interest garnered from my investment in a new Anime Chart: Oh, man, I had no idea this existed

Captain N: The Game Master

California teen Kevin Keene gets pulled into the world of Videoland, where he becomes Captain N (for Nintendo) and joins with Princess Lana, Kid Icarus, the supercomputer Gameboy and the rest of the N Team to battle the power-hungry evil Mother Brain. But Mother Brain has loads of video game monsters and villains at her disposal. Will Captain N and his helpers defeat Mother Brain, or will her minions zap them into oblivion?

Of course I can only enjoy this on an ironic-hipster-nostalgia level, but enjoy it I fully intend to. [wait, is that grammatically correct?]

It currently sits at #394-397 in my Netflix queue — so I’ll be watching this in 2010, at which point it will once again be a pleasant surprise. Unless it really, really sucks; sucks so hard that it takes all the ironic hipster enjoyment out of my appreciation of 1980s retro TV/Proto-Pseudo-Anime cartoons. (wasn’t there a Mario, and a Sonic thing as well?)