Synch-Point, one of the newest anime companies in the U.S., is pushing back the release dates of its first anime releases.  I'm Going To Be An Angel, the 'anime Addams Family,'  will now ship in February instead of January.  Synch-Point's major release, Studio Gainax's FLCL, will be released in March, with volumes #2 and #3 following in April and May respectively.  FLCL, which is also known as 'Furi-Kuri' in Japan and 'Fooly-Cooly' in the U.S., is a space age comedy about a boy who is caught between his older brother's spacey girlfriend, a grumpy robot, and an alien tomboy who slings a mean guitar (see 'Japanese Retailer Invests in Digital Manga').  Although this series has not received a huge wave of publicity in the U.S., it has a lot of potential based on its connection with Studio Gainax, the studio responsible for the mega-hit Neon Genesis Evangelion.  The first volume of FLCL DVD includes two episodes from the Japanese series and carries a suggested retail price of $29.95.  The DVD includes a complete English soundtrack as well as the original Japanese soundtrack with English subtitles.

 

In addition to the 3 volumes of FLCL planned for release this year, retailers can stock the superb Kaiyodo toys that Diamond is importing (see 'Diamond's Parade of Imports').  Diamond is bringing in figures of the irascible robot, Kanchi, and the teenage guitar slinger Haruhara Haruko.  The Diamond figures should arrive in July.  Unless you are well versed in anime, you may not have heard of FLCL, but this offbeat series is worth your consideration.