I've randomly discovered some quite good Japanese cosplay pictures of Ascule and Que Feuilles on Touchi Ginko's site Monpari:
http://monpari.raindrop.jp/kd2_aws_1.html
http://monpari.raindrop.jp/kd2_aws_2.html
http://monpari.raindrop.jp/kd2_askl_01.html
http://monpari.raindrop.jp/kd2_askl_02.html
It's not a big update, but it's an excuse for adding a new picture to the blog. The official Kiddy Grade site has added a picture of a flyer for the DVD boxes. Naturally I want one, but since picking one up requires either a physical presence in Japan or extortionate charges on Yahoo! Auctions through SMJ I may have to stick with the picture for now.
[edit="a little later" /]I've not done this for a while, but since my Kiddy Grade iGoogle plugin just flagged a couple of major hits, thought it was time for another links dump:
Ask John: Where is Kiddy Grade 2? (Animenation blog, 20080501)
I Want My Kiddy Grade (Impartially Biased blog, 20080504)
Kiddy Grade Fan Site (new fansite by a member of the FUNimation forums)
Kiddy Grade 2 (Advanced Anime forums, 20080306)
Kiddy Grade 2 (the waiting's simply killing me) (Viki Rosenzveig's blog, 20070705)
Season 2 Coming Soon (IMDb Kiddy Grade forums, 20061002)
Kiddy Grade 2?! (Felix's Anime Gaming Tech Ramblings, 20070122)
Kiddy Grade 2 pilot (Felix's Anime Gaming Tech Ramblings, 20070526)
KG2 (nebby_99's Livejournal, 20070528)
Date on Kiddy Grade 2? (Hongfire Anime Network forums, 20080205)
Kiddy Grade FanClub (MyAnimeList)
New season of kiddy Grade's single announced (Minitokyo forums, 1y 14wk ago)
(Like I said, some are really old but it's been a while since the last dump, and some only turned up relatively recently)
Amazon have added new box art to their listing for the first DVD box. I don't know if it is final or just a prelimiary mock-up, it has logos etc. on it this time around, but is different to what was pictured in the promo video.
I can't remember if I mentioned this before, but since the news has been posted up on the official site to remind me thought I'd give it a mention. The original series is being repeated on AT-X starting the 28th of April:
http://www.at-x.com/program_detail/index.html/2240/
The second episode is scheduled foth the 5th which means, if they keep showing an episode a week, that they will show the last episode some time around the end on the 6th of October by my reckoning. The optimist in me says that, like the movies and the box sets, this resurgence of interest in the original series is leading up to the broadcast of the sequel, but it is fairly safe to assume that this is not going to happen till after the original series has finished it's re-run at the earliest.
A short promotional video for the forthcoming DVD boxes has been posted up on the relevant page of the official site . The only real thing of interest is what appears to be mockups of the boxes themselves with the images posted before against some sort of background. I can't take screencaps on this PC but when I can I'll post it below. The direct link to the video is http://www.kiddygrade.com/1/pv/kiddydvdbox.wmv.asx.
The original Kiddy Grade site has been updated (for the first time since 2004, apart from the pulling of the BBS) with a new page detailing the boxes. There's nothing new to see there, but the the product pages on chara-ani (below) make note that the movies did very well, especially for a late night weekend showing, and that the K-G.2 pilot DVD sold 8000 copies.
http://www.chara-ani.com/details.asp?prdid=K22803002
http://www.chara-ani.com/details.asp?prdid=K22803003
Details on the second Kiddy Grade box are now up on Amazon Japan (not on CDJapan or Yesasia yet; I'll add the links when I have them)
Extras are another interview with Keiji Goto, another new sound layer (audio drama), a "Chevalier Chapter" with Norio Wakamoto this time, and a new jacket illustration by Megumi Kadonodono (presumably the one included below). As with the first box there are 7 discs (6 for the episodes and one for the extras) in a digipak.
[edit=20080304]
Now listed on Yes Asia: kidhigureidobokkusu02shokai
[/edit]
[edit=20080425]
Just had the following from CDJapan:
To secure your first press copy of any of the items listed
below, preorder on or before May 3.
*********************************************
KABA-4602
Animation/Kiddy GradeDVD Box 2 [Limited Release] DVD
19000 yen US$180/105.38 Release Date:2008/06/27
Description:Second DVD box set from anime series "Kiddy Grade" includes episodes 13 through 24 on six DVDs plus one bonus DVD with director's interview and audio drama "Special Sound Layer 2."
URL - http://cdjapan.jp/d.html?KEY=KABA-4602
[/edit]
The Gocky Club site has had a bit of a redesign. The only new thing, except maybe a couple of new banners, is that Gokikura 22 will be out in August 2008 (At comiket 74 in other words). The (provisional) title is Gocky Colour 02, which means it will likely be full colour again like Gokikura 14 (aka Gocky Colour 01). I've never actually scanned the cover of that one (it is on Minitokyo and has Eclair on the front, Lumiere on the back and "keep out!" tape) but I do have a scan of Manatsu from the inside cover.
In other news, they are showing re-runs of Kiddy Grade on AT-X starting on the 28th of April.
I've just spotted a listing for "kidhigureidobokkusu01shokai" on Yes Asia. A more sane translation of this would be "Kiddy Grade Box 1" and the release date is the 23rd of May.
It's not on CDJapan so I don't yet have a product code, and the official site has not been updated. Yes Asia for whatever reason also attach the Japanese product info as jpegs so I can't autotranslate it, but it contains the first 12 episode so is the first of two boxes and apparently also has interview(s) and a new "Special Sound Layer" audio drama. The major downside is the price of ¥19000 - $180.99 (over £90) using Yes Asia currently conversion rate.
The obvious question to ask myself is: do I really want to spend yet more oodles of money on this series for a relatively small amount of extras? I probably will, but not without wincing.
If/when I find any more info I'll update this post.
[update1]
OK, the product code is KABA-4601 and I've found it on Amazon (completely skipped my mind to look there earlier).
Amazon has a little more info than Yes Asia: there is an extra discs containing an interview with Keiji Gotoh. The new Sound Layer is an "Eclipse Chapter". The jacket is illustrated by Kadonosono Megumi and features Eclair (the second box will presumably be Lumiere). It will be a Digipak.
Yet again, it appears we are being shafted with regards to commentary tracks (has Aya ever done any commentaries yet?), which might suggest that they were just releasing the original discs again without remastering however asread is credited with production assistance again so, unless this is an error or is referring to something on the extra disc, then some sort of modifications have been made to the original Gonzo animation (possibly inserting reanimated scenes from the movies or something).
The following image is from Getchu:
While it is clearly not an actual package illustration it is a piece of art that I've personally not seen before.
[update2]
Tower Records has the second box, KABA-4602, slated for the 27th of June.
[update 3 - 2008-03-26]
Now up on CD Japan and Neowing. They say:
"DVD box set release from anime series "Kiddy Grade" includes episodes 1 through 12 on six DVDs plus one bonus disc with interview with the director, audio drama, and more!"
The fact that the first half of the series is again over six discs suggests that they are just repackaging the original DVDs.
[update 4]
Changed the image to a slightly better one from Amazon, below.
FUNimation have switched distrubution from their own ZStore to Righstuf. I've just noticed that they have those exclusive pre-assembled and coloured figures also. Assuming that you can now order them from Europe, which is why I never got them when they were in the ZStore, I'm going to be out of pocket again sometime soon...
Kiddy Grade Figure: Duo $81.95
Kiddy Grade Figure: Eclair $70.95
Kiddy Grade Figure: Lumiere $52.95
FUNimation have a new version of their Kiddy Grade site up at http://www.funimation.com/kiddygrade/. It is again 100% flash but has a nice splash page and also features the first two episodes streaming in a (very small) window. The downside, and it is a big one, is that they have removed all the actual content related to the series (much of it fairly unique as they had access to translations of the Japanese material that all I can do is squint at.. luckily I have a copy of it all on my harddrive still). They have also nixed the domain (intentionally or not I'm not sure) - http://www.kiddygrade.tv/ is currently returning a 404 error however http://www.kiddygrade.tv/index.html works. I suspect it is because the two sites are served from the same physical location and they have renamed the index file without updating the config for the domain.
The DVD has finally made it though the post, so Here's some photos and screencaps. Not really a great deal to say since there's really no new scenes or dialog, just the new stills I mentioned earlier. The's a couple of short scenes of Chevalier in his office (the first one watching the news from the end of ep18 and the second monitoring the construction of the Deucalion while holding the key) I can't place exactly so I need to check back through the DVDs at some point. The ending theme (Anata no Yō desu by Savage Genius) starts playing during the epilogue, in the reception scene with Fleur after the scene with baby Che. The original ending montage of Eclair, Lumiere and Armbrust on the Calliope has been dropped and replaced by another montage of all the major characters like the one in the first movie. The short scene of Epilogue-verison Eclair in action has also been dropped. The on-disc extras is a "long" interview with Gotoh on location at a radio telescope array or something similar.
Anyway, a breakdown of how everything was squished down this time:
0:00:00 - 0:00:06 Presented by gímik & KADOKAWA SHOTEN PUBLISHING CO.LTD
0:00:07 - 0:00:15 Chevalier
0:00:16 - 0:14:37 Episode 19 (14m21s)
0:14:38 - 0:14:52 Chevalier
0:14:53 - 0:30:17 Episode 20 (15m26s)
0:30:18 - 0:42:51 Episode 21 (12m34s)*
0:42:52 - 0:57:26 Episode 22 (14m35s)
0:57:27 - 1:11:56 Episode 23 (14m30s)
1:11:57 - 1:26:37 Episode 24 (14m19s)
*there was some overlap between the end of ep21 and the start of ep22 but neither epsiode has exactly the same scenes in exactly the same order and some more were cut for the movie so it was really hard to place the cutoff point. It is defnitely somewhere between 0:42:23 and 0:42:52 (which are the positions of the last and first scenes that are only in one of the episodes respectively) and the bits in between have more in common with ep21 (the "Deucalion ga!" line being in a slightly different place) but there is no natural cutoff, FTB or musical break.
links:
Kiddy Grade: Truth Dawn (NyanNyan anime blog)
The Gocky Club site has been updated with more information on the 21st doujin to be released at Comiket 73 on the 29th of December - it is going to be a collection of K-G.2 genga (presumably similar to issue 13 which did the same for the original Kiddy Grade PV).
If I read the news correctly, they are now selling numbered, limited edition reproduction douga (I believe I have the correct term..) taken from each of the three movies. They are sized 288mm×379mm and will go on sale in January, February and March of next year.
The catch is that they cost ￥12,600 each and appear to be only available through the chara-ani store - which is entirely in Japanese.
Love to have them though, to go with my settei collection.
Information has been added to the official site regarding the Truth Dawn DVD due out on the 21st of December.
Basic details are a run time of 93 minutes and 20 mins of extras, the usual linear PCM audio and 4:3 ratio. Price is ￥6000 (￥6300 including tax).
The booklet this time has actually now doubled to 16 pages, there are now two mouse pad stickers, and also an a "long" interview with Keiji Gotoh (presumably the aforementioned 20 mins).
The cover illustration, although not the actual cover itself, is also included on the above page.
In addition, after a bit of prompting, the DVD has now been listed on Yes Asia.
A page has been added to the Official site detailing the Savage Genius album "Sora no Kotoba", which features the new ending themes for Maelstrom and Truth Dawn, "Mou nido to" and "Anata no you desu". As mentioned previously, the release date is the 7th of November and there is a Limited Edition release including a DVD with footage from their performance at Anime Expo 2007. There are some video clips on the official Savage Genius site with comments on the songs and previews of the music videos.
Regular edition:
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=VTCL-60004
http://global.yesasia.com/en/prdTransfer.aspx/pid-1005026132/
Special edition:
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=VTZL-1
http://global.yesasia.com/en/prdTransfer.aspx/pid-1005026133/
The final Kiddy Grade movie DVD is now listed on Amazon, with a release date set for the 21st of December. Not up on CDJapan or Yes Asia yet, I'll add the links when I have them. Includes the usual 8-page booklet and Kadonosono-illustrated mouse pad cover sticker thingy, no mention of any on-disc extras that I can see.
The DVD is still in the post so no scans, but I've had a look at a "preview" copy of the movie.
Basically, not much to say really. It covers episodes 12-18, from the purge order until the 'new' eclair and Lumiere reveal their identitied. There's only one short new scene, presented in a few parts, which shows some of the regeneration process. The editing is at least a lot more coherent that with the first movie. Again the SFX have all been redone, and I think there might be some tweaked scenes and one or two new space shots but I need to check against the original discs to confirm.
Anyway here are the screenshots (private album this time since there's nudie bits).
What I wasn't expecting was the new Savage Genius ending theme - I knew Truth Dawn was getting a new song but I didn't realise Maelstrom was also (however looking at the CD Japan listing for the forthcoming Sora no Kotoba album again it does clearly say there are two new themes). This song is もう二度と (Mou nido to), which I think translates to "never again".
Tomorrow night I will be checking a couple of things against the original version and working out how the timing breaks down between episodes.
[added]I thought so - there were a couple of changes to the nudie bit in episode 12, and also a new shot of the La Muse.
[added later]Still haven't finished this article, gomen; been both busy and stuffed up.
[added even later, 11th Oct]DVD finally made it through the UK postal system. Not scanned anything yet, but have some snaps mixed in with other stuff here.
Links dump:
Kiddy Grade:Ignition (Nyan Nyan)
Kiddy Grade: Maelstrom (Nyan Nyan)
Kiddy Grade 2? (ANN forums.. thread 5?)
FUNimation, in it's continuing promotional relationship with Gaia Online that started with Tsubasa, has released the first two episodes of Kiddy Grade to Gaia Cinemas. Obviously you need a Gaia account, but if you do you can watch the episode in all their postage-stamp glory with other fans from around the world (or, possible, with a room of non-fans who turned up just to throw rotten tomatoes at the screen).
You can view the original annoucement here.
Some blogs in other timezones have already picked up on this:
Will Phantom Blade Make the Kiddy Grade? (theOtaku.com)
(There are a couple of others, but one I had to close I'm at work and it had naked or at least scantily-clad ladies on it, and the other consists of nothing other than the link)
Latest links dump:
Gaia Online Streams 2 Full Episodes of Kiddy Grade (Anime News Network)
Online Community, Gaia now streaming Kiddy Grade anime (ANN forums)
The official site has been updated since yesterday.
They now have some screenshots (apart from the title logo there is only one that I specifically do not recognise) and information on the Maelstrom DVD (cannot see anything that we didn't already know).
new links:
Kiddy Grade Director's Cut I: Ignition (AnimeOnDVD forums)
Kiddy Grade Ignition: Memories of (somewhat) old classic (Richard's Anime Reviews)
I've found out from Kano's site that there is to be a new ED theme for the third movie Truth Dawn by Savage Genius (Uta Kata OP/ED and a number of other anime since). The title is 「あなたのようです。」 which, being in Hiragana I can transcibe easily enough ("Anata no Yō desu"), but with no Kanji to indicate meaning all I know is that it means something like "It is your Yō." The online translator I use reckons it to be "It seems to be you."
Source: http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/-/Information/A019251.html
I missed a couple of updates on the official site while I was away on holiday, but there were all about what guests will be at the Truth Dawn showings in September.
Other new stuff since last update to last entry:
Kiddy Grade 2 Pilot episode (Livejournal KG community)
Kiddy Grade movie (dannychoo.com)
If I understand the update correctly, the first two movies (Ignition and Maelstrom) will be each be shown once again at "Theatre Dia" in Ikebukuro at 21:10 on the 7th and 14th of September respectively. Which is useless news to anyone oustide Japan of course.
In other news, the Truth Dawn trailer went up on the official site on the 11th. Didn't seem worth it's own entry since it presents nothing new, but I guess two trivial pieces of news almost make it to the level of a single useful post. ANN has already reported on this (I added the link to the end of the last entry) and there was a brief flutter of interest on the forums, but no-one seems terribly excited by the movies (having been underwhelmed by the first one myself this is understandable, however I only know one other person who has actually watched it and no-one else that actually owns a copy).
The main movie page on the Kiddy Grade site has been updated to reflect the fact that the Maelstrom run is over and Truth Dawn is on it's way (Premieres in Theatre Shinjuku on the 1st of September).
There are as usual three versions of the ticket with Eclair, Lumiere or the pair (this time in Epilogue form), the latter of which also features the Deucalion in it's giant robo form.
Related links:
http://www.chara-ani.com/list.asp?mode=t&tiid=100000190
http://www.pia.co.jp/cinema/detail/147135.jsp
New links:
Third Kiddy Grade Movie's Trailer Posted Online (ANN)
The movie begins a year or two before where the original series started, with a new scene showing Lumiere rescuing Eclair followed by somes scenes that were originally part of episode 16 where Eclair has her memories wiped and starts afresh. There is no new opening, the basic credits are overlaid through these scenes.
The story then leads into the original opening scene in the lobby, however it is abridged: notably there is no opening narration from the tour guide, no chat from the schoolgirls, and no scene with the teacher. The gun SFX sound different to me also, as do other sounds like Eclair's rouge whip and Wirbelwind, Donnerschlag and the La Muse's "voices". The second episode's story begins at in 17:19, but Alv and Dvergr's arrest scene has been skipped, as is the scene where they show the rivalry between the different ES teams. There's a lovely fake eyecatch of Eclair and Lumiere in Qipaos 32mins in, followed by a musical interlude of of clips from eps 4, 6, 3, 5, 7 and 8 (increasinly out of order as it progresses) set to Mirai no Kioku, then another eyecatch of the Pizza outfits, then some clips introducing the other main characters (again set to music), along with some new stills and another (ecchi) eyecatch.
It is then back to linear storytelling with episode 9 at 40:50, episode 10 at 53:46 and episode 11 at 1:05:06.
Other notes:
Where some lines have been cut out at 1:25 Lumiere's lips are badly out of synch with the dialog.
Where the BGM has been recut there are some messy transitions, e.g. at 19:17.
Temporary screencap gallery: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/shirobane/KiddyGradeIgnition?authkey=pksX8F43r-4
Links dump:
Kiddy Grade 2 (Abicion's Blog)
The second Director's Cut DVD is due for release on the 28th of September.
The title translates as something like:
"Kiddy Grade" Director's Cut DVD 2: Kiddy Grade Theatrical Version part II -MAELSTROM- (Inundation chapter)
RRP is ￥6,000 (￥6,300 including tax) although you can get it for ￥4,725 if you pre-order from Amazon.
According to Amazon it runs for 90mins and is in 4:3. It comes with an 8-page colour booklet and the first press item is a mousemat. I gather there will again be footage of the premiere event included.
「キディ・グレイド」ディレクターズカットDVD2 キディ・グレイド 劇場版第二部 -メイルシュトローム-(氾濫篇) (Amazon)
kidhigureidogekijouban02meirushutoro muhanranhen (Yes Asia)
The official site has been updated with information on the Ignition DVD, including the full cover illustraion. Looking back I don't appear to have posted any details on the DVD so here they are. Information compiled from details on the above link, the Kadokawa Entertainment site, Amazon, and CDJapan/Neowing.
The full title is given as something like: Kiddy Grade Director's Cut DVD 1 "Kiddy Grade Theatrical Version part 1 -IGNITION- (Awakening chapter)". The sites all seem to agree that the first press extra is a box, and that there is an 8-page colour making-of booklet included. I'm a little unclear on the rest, but I think there is some footage from the opening event featuring Ryoko Nagata, Aya Hirano, Mami Kosuge (Bonita), Ikue Kimura (Liquiy), Keiji Gotoh, Hidefumi Kimura, and Megumi Kadonosono.
Technical details are:
Running Time: 90mins.
DVD Format: DVD9 (single sided, dual layer)
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
Audio (Japanese): Linear PCM
Subtitles: None
Originally I had the impression that there would be a commentary track, but I can find no mention of this anywhere now, but it was also listed as being 16:9 on at least one site and that has now changed so this may have been another error. Which is a pity, as commentaries were one thing missing from the excellent set of extras for the original series and were present on the Uta Kata DVDs.
I cannot remember whether I've mentioned this before, but there is also a report (with small photos) of the Ignition premiere on the official site, and another shorter one on the Newtype site.
Newly discovered links:
キディ・グレイド Kiddy Grade (EDMW forums, 2007-03-15)
Kiddy Grade second Season (AnimeOnline.net forums, 2007-05-29)
Eclair's Lullaby (Codemasters forum, 2007-05-01)
There's now a 30s streaming trailer for the second movie, Maelstrom (which starts showing in a weeks' time), on the official site. I believe I recognised clips from episodes 12-17. Something else I didn't bother bringing up ealier since (only being of use to those in Japan) it wasn't worth an entry by itself, is that if you order tickets (of which there are three designs to chose from) from the Chara-ani site you can get premium versions which come with a passport wallet thingy. Wouldn't mind having one, but even if I could place an order through a deputy service it would mean an empty seat at the Theatre.
Oh, and somethign else not really worth a new entry by itself: Kano has started updating her Gotokei.com again and given it a bit og a redesign. Glad she's back as her site is a good resource for advance warning f DVD, magazine articles and Comiket stuff etc.
new links as usual from my web wanderings:
itspudding.com (blog with some nice vector traces)
Kiddy Grade = awesome (The Goddess Project forums - people with some misconceptions there but I'm not going to register just to say so)
There's a thread on the GotWoot? forums, which I am not going to link to as they advertise KAA's R1 DVD rips of the first series.
Kiddy Grade 2 (Anime Genre Database blog)
Kiddy Grade 2 (Anime Mikomi)
Kiddy Grade - Ignition (Anime Mikomi)
Holy Crap! New Kiddy Grade! (Ausanime)
Que-Feuilles (Ausanime forums)
Kiddy Grade 2nd Season (PCFormat forums)
Que-Feuilles (PinkuBentoBox blog)
Infinite Future Preview (Otaku Community Weblog)
Kiddy Grade 2 (tokuAsia forums, 2007-01-28)
Kiddy Grade 2 (Virtual Infusion forums, 2006-10-04)
Kiddy Grade Season 2 (Anime Bliss, 2007-01-29)
The Kiddy Grade 2 has just been updated. There's a minor redesign to the front page and some new pages have been added: there's a new Information page (which currently just mentions the Newtype article/poster and the Pilot DVD), a page detailing the Pilot DVD and an illustration gallery which at the moment just contains some of the colour settei sheets that were included on the DVD after the promo.
The other changes are to the movie page: the Ignition information has been archived and the section redesigned to promote Maelstrom, as well as being split up into seperate pages to prevent clutter. There is also a new page with a report on the Ignition opening event, including photos.
New links/random stuff I found on Google:
Kiddy Grade 2 (Animenation forums)
Kiddy Grade 2, Super powered lolis (Megatokyo forums, new thread)
Kiddy Grade II ~ Pilot Promo (Impartially Biased blog)
Kiddy Grade 2, Plus 3 remake movies (Lowyat.NET forums)
Kiddy Grade 2 (Fansub TV Network forums)
K.G.2 (Butterfly Anime)
Kiddy Grade 2 (Anything Asian Network)
Kiddy Grade 2, Second Season! (Muffin Forum)
I now have my Kiddy Grade 2 Pilot DVD in my sweaty just-washed-so-they-won't-leave-greasy-finergrints paws.
Scans are going up at http://www.kiddygrade.info/scans/kg2pv/.
Mistral is actually the ships name; the robot's name is Tifon (or something like that.. Typhon?). The new GTO boy's name is Zoma. To summarise the new characters (I'll tidy them up later when I've thought more about what they are supposed to be):
GTO
Ascule (アスクール Asukuuru)
Que Feuilles (ク・フィーユ Ku Fiiyu)
Hiver (イヴェール Iveeru)
Zoma (ゾマ)
Mecha
Mistral (ミストラル Misutoraru)
Typhon (ティフォン Tifon)
Baddies
Letuchaya (リトゥーシャ Rituusha)
Pauk (パウーク Pauuku).
Now some things of note from the Continuity File:
Yes, those really are chocolate.
Ascule fires "nanoneedles" from her comb.
The mark on Ascule's thigh is just referred to as a shining rose tatoo, and her move simply as teleporting.
Adult Lumiere is drinking champagne.
Eclair's lines:
「いつか．．．こんな日がやってくろ事は判っていた筈．．．」
「大丈夫．．．怖れる事はないわ．．．」
[edit]Added some settei capped from the DVD, under the cut.[/edit]
[edit=2]I've gotten around to scanning the Continuity File cover so I can now bring up another point: Like the Continuity Files for the first series the cover of this PV Continuity File has clockwise numbers as part of the design. The first time around these numbers were highlighted in sequence on the cover of each File, so assuming that this series will again have Continuty FIles with the LE DVDs and that they keep this design then we can also assume that there will be 12 DVDs, which also points to another 24 episode series.[/edit]
New links:
Kiddy Grade 2 (HongFire Anime Network Forums)
Kiddy Grade 2.. (FullMetal*Panic! Forums)
Kiddy Grade 2 (Ani-Pock Blog)
Kiddy Grade 2 (OMFG!) (遠山の目付 Blog)
Kiddy Grade 2 (SGCafe Forum)
Kiddy Grade II Pilot (Kurogane’s Anime Blog)
Kiddy Grade 2 - start getting excited! (ANN forums, thread number 4 I believe)
Apologies in advance as this is more of a rant/whinge than a proper update, although I will add some new info at the end.
Anyway, I ordered two copies of the K-G.2 Pilot DVD well in advance and from different suppliers to be sure I had first press and had it in my hands as quickly as possible. Well, I hadn't figured on the bank holiday weekend coming at the same time so both parcels arrived yesterday. While no-one was at home. I arrive home after 10pm yesterday to find two missed delivery slips. One was for parcelfarce who said to pick it up today which my Father was willing to do for me while I was in work, the other was from dull who wanted to arrange redelivery. Since I was getting the one today anyway I arranged for DHL to redeliver on Friday when I'm off work. When I arrived home tonight I was informed that the parcel had not been there. Ho hum.
What did manage to arrive safely yesterday was a parcel from Archonia with June's Newtype Japan (along with some backissues of Megami and other mags they had that I didn't). As well as the poster which I mentioned in an earlier entry, there's also a review of the Pilot DVD and an ad for Maelstrom.
From what I can make out with a cursory scan the two enemies seen in the PV are named "Rituusha" (リトゥーシャ) and "Pauuku" (パウーク). I can see I'll be scratching my head over these for a while. I can also see the name "Mistral" (ミストラル misutoraru) which I take to be the name of heroine's mecha and "Iveeru" (イヴェール) which I believe refers to the lanky meganekko.
[edit]see next entry for updates and corrections[/edit]
My DVD copy hasn't arrived but I have.. borrowed (*ahem*) a copy in the meantime.
The clips from the Newtype video are all there, but with more context.
It begins with the Orbital Rim explosion, which actually involves Epilogue Eclair and Lumiere. Eclair is falling through space, seemingly unconscious and Lumiere yells her name (the only dialog for some time, most of the PV is set to some tense BGM). Donnerchlag-Re get's blown up. Eclair is rescued by Eclipse on the Calliope, and then demonstrates her G-class strength by catching and throwing an immense chunk of metal about to hit them. Armbrust does some showing off floating in the air, we see his case's guns in use for the first time and a bit of the Siegerum in action.
Then suddenly we're back ten years before the start of the first series with Lumiere, chibi Eclair (who seems to make a habit of kicking down doors), Maryann and Bran from the Pr. novels (see here and here), then Viper and Virago from the Vs. manga (see here). We seem to going through a potted history as then see both the main versions of Eclair and Lumiere from the original series in order, although in scenes not shown in the series itself including Lumiere creating what looks like a warp portal. Then a brief glimpse of Liquiy, Bonita and the new receptionist Fleur from the epilogue.
Now we're up to the new stuff with Que Feuilles and Ascule's guard robot, which looks to have been designed after a hippogriff/centaur, which fights with a snake-robot thing. Like that recent Newtype poster indicated, Ascule fights with a comb (of all things), firing the teeth like little exploding darts. Que Feuilles weapon, which I thought from the poster were stones, actually seem to be.. exploding chocolates (go figure).
We now go back onboard the Calliope with Eclair, Lumiere and Eclipse and have some more spoken lines (Ryoko and Aya are the only credited cast), one of which is Eclair's "Osoreru koto wa nai" which is also in one or two of the epilogues on the KG Sound Packs.
Now we have the bit with the warp gate, the Fenice (Viola and Cesario), and the Centurion (Dextera and Sinistra). There's an explosion on part of the warp gate and chunks fly towards the Fenice which disintergrates them (using Viola's power), but it is hit (from behind it looks like) and falls into the warp gate. Centurion splits into Unicorn-α and -β, both Dextera and Sinistra look hurt. Are we to believe they all die since they are not seen again in the PV?
Now we cut to Ascule fighting those two twins. That glowing tatoo on her thigh looks to be shaped like a rose and allows her to, well bamf basically. It doesn't look to be her just rapid movement, she's not moving fast when she disappears and comes out backwards, but looks to be a short-range/line-of-sight dislocation rather than Eclipse's quantum jump. Those little glowing balls by the twins fingers function like exploding energy bolas.
Now we're back with Epilogue Eclair and Lumiere again, Eclair is naked, glowing and falling down an energy column within the space elevator shaft from the start, her hair doing that whole Saiyan-thing (or so I've heard). She says something innaudible and then explodes. Lumiere looked to be back on Donnerchlag-Re, despite him seeming to blow up in what I assume to be earlier in this continuity, and he is presumably now vapourised anyway along with Lumiere given their proximity to Eclair when she gained critical mass.
Now we have the other new characters; the tall meganekko and the boy (who could possibly be Chevalier?), who appear to be partners.
It wouldn't be a Kiddy Grade preview without the odd imagery in the next few clips, followed by more short clips with the new and old characters (including A-ou, Un-ou, Tweedledee and Tweedledum) and the new leads' ship.
Finally we end with the group shot that started the internet preview, the text under the logo they stand under, which is for the Galactic Trade Organisation (GTO), reads "As it was in the beginning and now and ever shall be the world without End" (from the Gloria Patri.. I think someone's been watching too much Evangelion)
The end credits run to Junpaku Sanctuary.
Motherlode of caps under the cut.
Links:
K-G.2 - Kiddy Grade 2 Pilot DVD (Neko Mimi Mode)
Kiddy Grade II thread on Hentaishare forums. I'll let you find it yourself if you want to read it due to the adult nature etc.
Couple of interesting tidbits from AoD's report from the FUNimation panel at Anime Central 2007:
"They are [also] looking at Kiddy Grade 2"
"I [Marc Lunden] asked about the possibility of licensing the Kiddy Grade compilation movies. At the time, Adam [Sheehan] responded that he didn’t know about them. Afterwards, I caught up with him and gave a brief description, and he mentioned that if it’s Kiddy Grade and Gonzo, FUNimation would definitely be interested in taking a look at them."
Checking back at Amazon etc. more detail has been added regarding the release.
There's 4 minutes of bonus footage (sounds like it's just a slideshow of artwork like was included on the original Kiddy Grade PV) with audio commentary by Keiji Gotoh.
The first press release also includes a slipcover illustrated by Megumi Kadonosono and an 82-page conte booklet.
According to Neowing/CDJapan the video is 16:9 and the audio is Dolby 5.1
Just spotted the DVD for the first of the the Kiddy Grade movies on Amazon. Its due out on the 27th July 2007 for ￥6,300, although you can get it for ￥4,725 if you preorder from Amazon. Not listed on CDJapan yet or Yesasia yet (Yesasia still don't even have the KG2 PV unless its listed under some obscure mistranslation again). This time around we get an audio commentary (Yay! Better feature Aya!). The credits mention asread who, since they didn't work on the original, must have had some involvement in the new director's cut stuff. No cover artwork available yet. Also, according to CDJapan is is in widescreen, unlike the original series.
In other news, the first Gigantic Formula DVD is out on the same day for ￥6,090 (￥4,568 with discount). This one is on CDJapan. If I read the details correcly first press bonuses include a box (holding four DVDs) with artwork by Megumi Kadonosono, a character card(s) designed by the same, a mecha design card and a sound drama CD. Cover artwork is by Keiji Gotoh. Also in widescreen but only two episodes, which is a pity. I'll definitely be getting at least the first volume, for Meg's artwork if nothing else. Oh PS, both sites list is as Dolby stereo rather than LPCM.
The site has had an update. As well as adding a link to the trailer on the Newtype site, they're also advertising the May June* issue of issue of Newtype (Japan). which has a Kiddy Grade poster. I've had a copy for a few days that turned up on Futaba, but I didn't know where it came from. The poster itself features the two main characters, although it is drawn by Maiko Okada of asread rather than Megumi or Gotoh (although it does match Megumi's style fairly well). It looks kinda like the signature weapons this time will be a comb (for Ascule) and pebbles (for Que Feuilles) - the way she is using them reminds me of Inukami and Chrno Crusade.
* Edit: Actually, looks like there's an error on the Newtype site and it should be the June issue, unless this year has two Mays.
A trawl for new info on the net has turned up an AnimeNation News article about a 75s trailer which is now up on the Newtype site.
Amazon finally have the DVD available to preorder. The release date is given as the 25th May.
[edit]Also available from CDJapan. According to them it is 7mins long, in widescreen and Dolby 5.1 and there is a first press bonus of some description.[/edit]
[edit=2]Release date now mentioned on the official site along with a link to the Chara-Ani store where they're also selling a copy with a Kiddy Grade Ignition phonecard included for ￥4,440. Still no news of what the first press bonus is.[/edit]
Related Links:
Paprika Blu-ray and DVD plus Kiddy Grade 2 (ollin.us)
Just a quick update*, there is now a trailer up on the official site and there is also a new minisite opened for the movies on Klock Worx site.
Related links:
Kiddie Grade -Ignition- Trailer Online (ikimashou)
The KG2 article from the February issue of NT was published in the April issue of NTUSA.
If they are to be believed, the girl's names are "Ascule" and "Que Feuilles" but since these don't seem to make much sense I'm holding out for official confirmation.
What they say:
Sometime after a giant intergalactic scuffle that would've destroyed the entire universe were it not for the courage of ES Force members Éclair and Lumière, new signs of chaos are beginning to emerge
...
"The overall setting will remamin the same," says show director Keiji Gotoh, stressing that there will be considerable continuity between the two series. "We haven't decided exactly how many years apart the two shows will be, but the new series will definitely be a true sequel, so expect to see some familiar faces from the ES Force. We're also planning a few very interesting opportunities for cooperation between the old and new characters."
I've finally got the last few missing pieces of my collection (minus the audio novels): the super duper box, Continuity File EX, the EX3 bookmark and the Secret Affair and Pr1 novels. I also have a sizeable hole in my wallet and some stuff to sell on Ebay but that's another story..
Secret Affair is, like EX-Parter, a series of short stories about different parterships, again with door illustrations by Megumi Kadonosono.
Narcotic/Drug is Armbrust and Pfeilspitze
Fake/Fate is Lightning and Twinkle
Thought/Harmonize is Chevalier and Renault (If I remember his name correctly)
Closed/Connection is Liquiy and Bonita
Inclined/Balance is Eclair, Lumiere and Eclipse.
Some of the material in the EX Continuity File seems to relate to early concepts, with original design sketches of the characters. Also, if I understand correctly, Kiddy Grade was originally planned as three OVAs, which means the series has basically now come full circle with the forthcoming three movies.
Things of interest are "10 years later" omake drawing by Meg, Kim and Gotoh, and dates for all the scenes pictured on thereverse covers.
There's a small piece on the sequel in the March 2007 issue of Megami (vol. 82).
http://www.kiddygrade.info/scans/articles/index.php?image=megami82pg34.jpg
I hadn't noticed the mid-dot in ク・フィーユ before (I think it is there in the Newtype article as well, but looked rather like part of the background starfield). フィーユ usually seemes to romanise to Fille ('girl' in French), but I'm not sure about the ku.. could possible be "Cou Fille" ('neck girl') but that doesn't make a great deal of sense strike that, another flash of insipration: "coup" (as in "counting coup" or "coup de grâce") is also pronounced coo and makes more sense since "Coup Fille" means something like "hit girl". Wish I'd had the option of French rather than German lessons in school.
[edit]Just had a flash of memory after a snooze - there's a character called Fille in the second Gemini Knives novel, but there it is written as フィユ without the dash throwing a shadow of doubt on the above interpretation.[/edit]
The Kiddy Grade site has been updated again.
If I understand this correctly, the original series has been cut down into three 80-90 minute episodes for theatrical release entitled "Ignition", "Maelstrom", and "Truth Dawn". This will be a Director's Cut verion with new footage. They will be shown at Theatre Shinjuku beween the 7th April and 20th April (my birthday), 23rd June and 6th July and the 1st the to 14th of September. Tickets are 1500 yen in advance or 1800 on the door. Full information at http://www.kiddygrade.com/movie/.
Other links:
Kiddy Grade to Become a 3-Part Movie, Recieve a Sequel (Heisei Democracy)
Kiddy Grade Movies?! (Blogging Wit' KT)
Kiddy Grade Digest Movies (Anime News Network)
Kiddy Grade Movie Trilogy Announced (AnimeNation News)
Scattered Cels Podcast #7 - Haruhi is a Kiddy at 5 Centimeters a Second
new Kiddy Grade Movies announced (FUNimation Forums)
Kiddy Grade Trilogy (Animekon)
3 Part Kiddy Grade Film Announced (Anime News Service - scroll down to 2-7-07 3:07PM)
The Kiddy Grade site has been updated with a K-G.2 splash page. No new news so far, just stuff we already know about the pilot DVD and single.
New/updated links:
Kiddy Grade Gets Second Season (ANN)
Kiddy Grade 2 (ANN Encyclopedia)
New season of Kiddy Grade’s single announced (Japanator)
Kiddy Grade 2 Official Presite (Animekon)
AnimeNfo
I found out from Kano, who has updated her site for the first time in a while, that the theme song for Kiddy Grade 2 (the pilot DVD at least) will be sung by Minori Chihara (Yuki Nagato's seiyuu) as announced on her blog.
From what I can gather, the song will be Snow White Sanctary (純白サンクチュアリィ Junpaku Sankuchuarii), the single for which will be released on the 24th (CD Japan have already sold out of the first press, a slipcover, and Yesasia are yet to list it as far as I can see)
[update=20070129]Had a email from Yesasia to say they it is available there now[/update]
Some more details were reported by Anime News Service on the 6th (corrections and amplifications by me):
The rollout of K-G.2 (tentatively titled Kiddy Grade 2 although the title Kiddy Generation has also been spotted) will kick off with the release of a Pilot DVD scheduled for sale in Japan at the end of March. Production details are as follows:Original Story: gímik / Kadokawa Shoten
Director, Storyboards, and Producer: Keiji Gotoh
Character Designer: Megumi Kadonosono
Scenario: Hidefumi Kimura
Mechanical Designer: Kanetake Ebikawa (FMP, Vandread, Bakuten)
Art: Studio Easter (Trinity Blood, Brave Story, Witchblade)
Animation Production: asread (Shuffle!)
Planning Producer: Atsushi Ito (Shuffle!, D.N.Angel, FMP)
Executive Producer: Kiyonori Hiramatsu (Shuffle!, D.N.Angel)
Official website: www.kiddygrade.comStory Open: Focus on KG1 leads Eclair and Lumiere who were doing special duties as ES members. The war was won and crisis was evaded. The two go on their own way out into the Milky Way. Stage and world outlook are basically unchanged, it's uncertain how many years in advance of the previous work the new story occurs. Two new characters appear and form the basis of K-G.2. "Kufiiyu" and "Asukuuru" become the heroines of this work. Retail on the Pilot DVD is 2,940 Yen and the running time of the main preview is about 7 minutes.
Looks like the primary source was again Moonphase, but there are also scans of a double-page spread in Newtype (don't know which issue yet, but when I do I'm ordering it..)
As of 10th Jan there's still no update to gotokei.com, indeed no updates since early December (she's not added a working link for the 2nd Gemini Knives book eitehr), so I hope Kano is OK. There's also been no updates to Gotoh's site or blog, but I believe his last update said something about not being able to update the site much at the moment, I guess he's pretty busy right now.
New/updated links:
Moon Phase
FUNimation forums
Animesuki forums
MelonBread (blog)
Neko Mimi Mode (blog)
Ramblings of DarkMirage (blog)
LJ KG Community (older entry I missed before)
LJ KG Community (think you might need to be a member to read this one)
Megatokyo Forums
Animekon (blog)
Anime Obsession
Lu Perry
Ningen's Wallpapers
(last updated 2007/01/26)
In the first update since 2004 there is an announcement that work will be carried out on the Kiddy Grade site between now and mid-January. It looks like it's just maintenance a server move, but at least it means that the site hasn't been completely abandoned and hopefully they will get the board working again as well. The fact that they've suddenly started paying attention to the site again now may mean they are looking towards updating the site in regards to the sequel, although Gotoh is already booked to work on Gigantic Formula so that still looks some way off, if it goes ahead at all (taking into account the tenuous amount information provided thus far and Gonzo's cancellation of Murdock Scramble)
Keiji Gotoh's blog and homepage now both mention KG2, so not only is it now 100% official, gímik's involvement is now also confirmed.
Lastest links (for those too lazy to Google and for my own reference):
Otaku News
Animesuki forums
Animesuki forums (again)
Yuki Anime Reviews
The Rossman
Claim Anime
Some Japanese blog
Eye on Anime forums
Kiddy Grade Yahoo Group
Monica Rial's Yahoo Group
Madboards
Anime Reactor Forums
G4 Forums
theOtaku.com
Anime Jumpgate Forums
AnimeNation
Toon Zone Forums
UGAnime Forums
(last updated 21/11/06)
There's been reports (or, at least one report on Moonphase that other people are commenting on) about a second series for Kiddy Grade. The original source was something Aya Hirano said during the 35th Suzumiya Haruhi radio programme, now online on the SOS Radio Shibu page (KG2 is mentioned about 24 mins in). I've not seen any news about this on Gotoh's blog, however in a recent interview, Gotoh did mention that his current project was a new anime.
References:
Moonphase
SOS-dan Radio Shibu
Gotokei
Kumako interview
Discussions:
The Nexxus
FUNimation
AoD
ANN
ANN2
Shoujo-ai forums
AnimeNfo
Blogs:
Gocky Blog (Cannot see anything relevant at the moment, but doesn't hurt to keep an eye on it)
Aya Hirano's Diary (Again, nothing relevant as yet)
