| AnimeIowa - Panels - The
Right Stuf |
 Des Moines,
Iowa is home to The Right Stuf, the company that came out of nowhere in
the 1990's to become one of the major importers and distributors of anime
in the U.S. When Iowa's anime convention comes around, Iowa's anime company
sends Marc Ray to talk about their products. They're already getting attention
from fans with their plans to release Boogiepop Phantom, the tale of a
high school girl with supernatural powers which takes a strange twist on
reality. But another new series is coming out that hasn't gotten as much
attention; Yamamoto Yoko, a comedy about an all-female crew of a starship
that crosses space battles with video gaming and sports tournaments. It's
the kind of comedy that puts the crew in a swamp that has alligator-sized
bananas. |
 There's also
KO Beast Century, whose spiky-haired characters are familiar to anyone
who has seen Newtype Magazine. This comedy where the lead characters change
under stress into a tiger, a rooster and a mermaid is being produced for
a North American release by The Right Stuf. And the company's signature
product, its large catalog that many fans use as a definitive reference
for all anime titles, is nearly finished. Ray said the catalog will celebrate
the company's 15th anniversary and will have some special extras, including
a forward by a noted anime personality and articles from people in the
North American anime industry. |
 Then there's
Kare Kano, the offbeat story of high school students from Gainax. Right
Stuf has been working for a couple of years to get this series ready for
English-language release, and Ray said the dubbing sessions for Kare Kano
will start in September, with the home video release to follow in February
of 2002. No, the rumors are not true, and the title will not change to
"Tales of North Hill High," said Ray. |
|
|
