Amazon Japan recently turned up with the box set covers of both the Wolf’s Rain DVD Release and GITS:SAC Limited Edition Blu-Ray Release. I think the Wolf’s Rain one is gorgeous, the GITS:SAC one is a little too simple for an animation that sophisticated.

Details:
Catalog No.: BCXA-17
Format: Blu-ray
Number of discs (or other units): 4
Release Date: July 25, 2008
Price: 28000yen (approx $259.36 USD)
Purchase through CD Japan or Amazon.

Description: Blu-ray release of legendary anime OVA series “Ghost in the Shell S.A.C.” includes the features “The Laughing Man,” “Individual Eleven,” and “Solid State Society” plus bonus disc with 180 minutes of bonus footage including the features “Tachikoma na Hibi” (new feature), “Section 9 Science File Extra Tachikoma na Hibi” (”The Laughing Man” ver), “Section 9 Science File Extra Tachikoma na Hibi” (”Individual Eleven” ver), short anime “Uchikoma na Hibi,” “S.A.C. Archive,” “S.A.C. Archive 2,” “Work World File Sakuhin Sekai Tettei Kensho,” “Anime + Car Design Designing The Future Car,” and “Making of Tachikoma Robot - Robo Garage no Chosen.”

Features Tru HD and 5.1 channel Japanese audio tracks, Tru HD and 5.1 channel English audio tracks, and Japanese and English subtitles. Box includes deluxe “S.S.S.” setting guide and special 24-page booklet (details subject to change).

Details:
Catalog No.: BCBA-3320
Format: DVD
Number of discs (or other units): 8 (more…)

Megumi Nakajima/Ranka Lee’s Debut Single Seikan Hikou debuts in the Oricon Daily Singles Chart at #5, with a tough competition of 9 other debuts this week. Seikan Hikou’s sales for yesterday are not published in Oricon, as they usually don’t publish the figures if they are below 10,000. The single above Seikan Hikou does not have figures either, and the single above that sold about 14,000.

But there’s hope as the Triangler Single debuted at the daily charts with a lower ranking at #6, but made it to the weeklies at #3.

I wish it would end up in the Weeklies as #3 or higher to keep the Macross Frontier record. (more…)

Another new CM song! Perhaps Kanno has some time in her hands right now This time, the song is for the insurance company Tokio Marine Nichido, entitled “Anshin Seimei SEIMEI Hajimaru”. I’m not sure how to describe the song, perhaps I’ll just say that it’s something that might come out of a 70’s style comedy show.

Listen to the song in Grand Funk.net, watch the CM video at the Tokio Marine Nichido page.

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I found this CD single quite enjoyable, but nothing to dethrone “Aimo~Tori no Hito” as the best Ranka song in my list. Seikan Hikou is very very energetic, especially when we’re left with the image of Ranka dancing all over the place. Neko Nikki is very innocent with a music box for the background, which develops into a slightly more upbeat song. I found it cute that at one point, the music box sounded like it was being winded up, after which the music box sounded louder than before.

The versions of Ranka’s cover of Minmay’s songs Do You Remember Love? and My Boyfriend is a Pilot here are the short versions, as heard in the Deculture Edition of Episode 1, and the Miss Macross Contest.

If we are to compare Sheryl’s and Ranka’s CD singles, their characters almost come out of their respective songs. Sheryl’s songs are harder to sing, are produced well, and are quite emotive which shows her professional experience. Ranka’s on the other hand, has songs that are quite simple to sing with plain arrangements, and are as innocent and cute as her character is.

Here’s something for the Macross fans: (more…)

Fujitsu’s new waterproof phone F706i CM has music by Yoko Kanno, vocals by Nello Andaluci.

Watch the CM through Fujitsu’s CM page, or through Crunchy Roll. Listen to the CM music through Grandfunk.net

Zhou.

… ZHOU?!!!
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