Manga Mania, Issue 12, cover date July 1994. Still being published by Dark Horse, for now.
The editorial talks of two new companies entering the UK anime market – Animania & Anime UK. Animania would have a slightly brighter time of things than Anime UK, which went the way of Crusader – one appalling dubbed title and then death. It also mentions Virgin having plans to join the fray. As far as I know this never happened.
Article-wise there’s a Masamune Shirow article (w/ help from Toren Smith) on Dominion Tank Police’s hardware (the manga was starting this issue) and a Tezuka retrospective. There’s also a dimissive review of Gunbuster that seems hilariously out of touch next to gushing reviews for now forgotten titles like Wind of Amnesia, Galactic Pirates and Kamasutra.
And Wil Overton was trying to convince you that Ranma 1/2 – Hard Battle was a good game (8/10!).
UK NEWS
- Animania were launching with “Guy, Awakening of the Devil“
- Manga were releasing the first Devilman OAV, Monster City, Maris The Wondergirl, Roujin Z, the live action Gunhed and, of course, Guyver.
- Cornerstone Communications released some Akira trading cards. My brother had some of these, got them from a local corner shop I seem to recall.
- Anime UK were releasing KO Century Beast Warriors.
- Kiseki were due to release Black Magic & Macross – Clash of the Bionoids
- Western Connection were bringing Love City to an uncaring world.
- Anime Projects made with the Genesis Survivor Gaiarth.
- The first creeping in of Hong Kong action movie coverage began with noting the launch of the Made In Hong Kong video label with The Killer, God of Gamblers, The Barefoot Kid & Saviour of the Soul. Good times.
US NEWS
- Rumiko Takahashi was due to appear at San Diego Comic Con.
- CPM had Animated Classics Of Japanese Literature coming out.
- Viz continued the deathly slow trickle of Ranma 1/2.
- US Manga Corps had Iczer 3 and Project A-Ko 3.
- AnimEigo had Urusei Yatsura: The Final Chapter.
- Pioneer LDC had Green Legend Ran and more No Need For Tenchi!
JAPAN NEWS
Coming out on Laser Disc was:
- Fortune Quest
- Ah! My Goddess
- Final Fantasy
- VOTOMS
- Dirty Pair Flash
- Butt-Attack Punisher Girl Gotaman
- Genocyber
- The Hakkenden
- All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku
- Please Save My Earth
- Angel Cop