Australia, August 18, 2008 - Welcome to IGN's Aussie Anime Update, our look at the anime titles hitting retail in Australia each month. Which titles are coming out in August? Read on to find out…
Release Date: August 20
RRP: $29.95
Genre: Action / Adventure / Fantasy
In Brave Story, those who wish to change their destiny can only do so by journeying to a mystical world known as Vision. In this world, the Goddess of Destiny can make a single wish come true, but in order to reach her, the adventurer faces a difficult path and must attain powerful magic.
Brave Story's meek young hero Wataru becomes just such an adventurer, entering Vision determined to bring his family together again after his father left and his mother became ill. He follows on the heels of a classmate, who becomes a powerful wizard within the world, and is determined to do what it takes to change his life.
Brave Story is a feature-length production from Studio Gonzo (the studio behind Samurai 7 and Afro Samurai) and it's hard not to be won over by its charms. The world of Vision – and its many anthropomorphic inhabitants – is rich in detail and variety, the animation is hugely polished, and the action scenes nicely framed. Check it out.
Get that kid a giant robot, stat!
Release Date: August 20
RRP: $29.95
Genre: Action / Adventure / Occult
The cult Clamp series finally comes down under! xxxHolic is the story of Watanuki, a seemingly ordinary high school student, who just so happens to be able to see the spirit world. Sounds like a cool ability, right? Not really, as the spirit world won't leave him alone. The series opens with him being pursued down the street by a thick cloud of spirits. As they knock him to the ground and threaten to crush him he reaches out and touches the fence by the footpath and they disappear. Driven by a power beyond his control, he ventures into the house behind the fence and meets Yuki, a Dimensional Witch, who offers to cure Watanuki of his affliction… for a price. Naturally enough in the world of anime, Watanuki ends up working for the enigmatic Yuki to pay off his debt, and hilarity ensues.
xxxHolic's set-up is interesting enough, but it's the humour that will keep you coming back, whether it's the way Watanuki falls all over Himawari Kunogi, the subject of his affection, the deadpan delivery of Shizuka Domeki, Watanuki's supposed rival, or the antics of Maru and Moro, two young girls that live with Yuko. It's all delivered with Clamp's unique visual punch.
Created by the all-female studio Clamp. What can we say, they like the ladies.
Release Date: August 20
RRP: $59.95
Genre: Action / Adventure
Deep beneath Tokyo, cut off from the rest of the city, live a group of unusual humans. Known as The Company, they were the subjects of scientific experiments which have given them the power to manipulate the elements, be it gravity, electricity, wind etc. Now, many of The Company aren't the friendly, co-habitating types. Instead, they're planning on coming to the surface and destroying everyone else. Crucial to their plans is a girl called Ruri Sarasa, the 'Maiden of Life' who they're planning to sacrifice in order to awaken the Ron, dragon-shaped entities created by the same scientists that created The Company.
Thankfully, Ruri has a bodyguard, the kick-ass Chelsea Rorec, and the series opens with them escaping to the surface. The pair soon find themselves sheltering in the house of Rumina Asagi, a high school boy with kick-ass martial arts abilities of his own (and more to come – but we won't spoil it). Along with Rumina's bespectacled best friend Ginosuke Isuzu, they make an odd combination, but a potent one. Tokyo Underground is part action, part drama and part high school comedy.
When a seagull craps on both your cheeks, all you can really do is scream.
Release Date: August 20
RRP: $24.95
Genre: Mecha / Science Fiction
For fans of Gundam Seed Destiny this volume will be worth a look, as it's essentially a special remake of episode 50 (the final moments of the Second Bloody Valentine war), featuring new footage and an alternate ending. Is its 47 minute runtime worth $25? That's your call, but it's certainly an epic episode, with the Archangel and allies making a last stand against Durandal. See Shinn against Athrun, Kira against Rey and Archangel against Minerva.
Mech my day, etc.
Release Date: August 20
RRP: $59.95
Genre: Action / Adventure
Honestly, I think the voice over from the Coyote Ragtime Show trailer does a better job describing this series than we ever could:
"What do an outer space prison break, a little girl with a mysterious pendant, a ravenously determined government agent, a dozen android assassin lolitas and a renegade pirate have in common?
10 billion dollars, that's what.
Before he died, pirate king Bruce encoded a message leading to the whereabouts of a stolen bounty into a necklace he gave to his daughter. He entrusted her care to his best compadre, 'Mister', the most infamous Coyote in the galaxy, and now that he's freshly busted out of the slammer, Mister is not only looking for the treasure, but he's ducking and dodging two women who want to capture him and bring him back alive. At least for now.
To make matters worse, planet Graceland is set to be annihilated by the Federation government in just five days. And that just happens to be where the pirate king's treasure is hidden.
With his loyal band of Coyotes by his side, can Mister successfully elude those who stand between him and the girl and the treasure?
Bullets. Blades. Bombs. Beauty. And babes. If it's capable of destruction or distraction it's fair game in this chilling, thrilling, killing, blood-spilling ride called Coyote Ragtime Show."
Genius.
They certainly look like trustworthy chaps.
Release Date: August 20
RRP: $79.95
Genre: Action / Adventure / Mecha
The box set collection of the second 'proper' season of Full Metal Panic! (Fumoffu was more of a comedy spin-off) sees the show come into its own, with a better overarching story and more compelling character development. It once again follows Sousuke Sagara, a member of the mercenary group Mithril, who's pretending to be a high school student but is actually on assignment as a bodyguard for Kaname, a 'Whispered' girl (one of a group of teens with the ability to make advanced technology).
The Second Raid takes place three months after the end of the first series, and sees Mithril facing a new threat: Amalgam. This collection includes all 13 episodes, plus episode 000 and the OVA "Tessa's Eventful Day."
Read our review here.
Kids + giant robots + high school pratfalls = innovative anime.
Other Releases This Month
- Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad Volume 6
Release Date: August 20
RRP: $29.95
Genre: Drama / Music & Performance - Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage Volume 2
Release Date: August 20
RRP: $29.95
Genre: Action / Adventure - Hell Girl Volume 5
Release Date: August 20
RRP: $29.95
Genre: Horror - My-Z-Hime: My-Otome Volume 6
Release Date: August 20
RRP: $29.95
Genre: Action / Adventure / Science Fiction - Naruto (uncut) Collection 04 (Eps 39-52)
Release Date: August 20
RRP: $49.95
Genre: Action / Adventure / Martial Arts - Witchblade Volume 6
Release Date: August 20
RRP: $29.95
Genre: Action / Adventure / Science Fiction
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