Pioneer announced its fourth quarter DVD releases.  They include Cowboy Bebop: The Complete Sessions (see 'Cowboy Bebop: The Complete Sessions'), DVDs for Crest of Stars, and Mobile Suit Gundam 08th MS Team all from Bandai (distributed by Pioneer).   Q4 releases also include Ranma and Video Girl Ai from Viz, and Pioneer's own Hand Maid May, Niea_7 and The Wanderers.  The Cowboy Bebop box, which bows on November 20 includes six DVDs with over 650 minutes of the best outer space anime action available for the substantial retail price of $199.98. Pioneer is also releasing single volumes of other Bandai science fiction anime titles including Crest of Stars (Vol. #4, $29.98 -- 12/04), Mobile Suit Gundam 08th MS Team (Vol.#3, $24.98 -- 11/20).  The Mobile Suit Gundam 08 Team title is also available on VHS ($19.98).

 

Ranma Digital Dojo Box Set

Here's another superb holiday offering from Pioneer (and Viz), the first season of Ranma available for the first time on DVD, a full 450 minutes of anime delights.  The Ranma Digital Dojo box set hits the streets on November 20 with a retail price of $99.98.  Pioneer is also releasing brand new episodes of Ranma--Ranma: Random Rhapsody (Vol. #6 $29.98), which is also available in VHS ($24.98).

 

Video Girl Ai

In addition to the Ranma titles, Pioneer is releasing all six episodes of Video Girl Ai on the 180 minute Video Girl Ai DVD, which collects the anime version of the manga classic, which is published in the U.S. by Viz.  Viz has also created the English version of the anime, which will be released by Pioneer.  Video Girl Ai is a wonderfully sexy (16 and up) fan favorite, available on DVD for the first time on December 4.

 

Hand Maid May

Hand Maid May is an excellent example of the 'ecchi' genre, sexy anime films aimed directly at teenage boys with 'R' rated 'dirty jokes' and plenty of 'fan service' in the form of sexy shots and camera angles.  The title character is a four-inch ultra-cute female robot, who manages to both enchant and exasperate the teenage boy who accidentally orders her over the internet.  In December Pioneer is issuing the third volume of Hand Maid May on both DVD ($29.98) and VHS ($24.98).

 

Niea_7

Niea_7 (pronounced knee-ah under seven) is one of Pioneer's very best titles.  The 13-episode series is the latest anime from the team of Yoshitoshi Abe, Yasuyuki Ueda, and Chiake J. Konaka, the team responsible for Serial Experiment Lain.  Set in a modern day Tokyo overrun with aliens who are trying to fit in with Earthlings, the title character of Niea_7 is the lowest order of alien who moves in on an impoverished girl who delivers newspapers before dawn and attends school during the day.  The humor in Niea_7 is based on the contrasting characters of this female 'odd couple.'  A beautifully animated series with great backgrounds and warm, witty storylines, Niea_7 is truly charming. Pioneer is releasing the third volume in the series, Sayonara Blues, on December 11 in DVD only ($29.98).

 

The Wanderers

Pioneer is also releasing Volumes 3 and 4 of The Wanderers anime series on December 11 on DVD only.  A powerful fantasy story, the third Wanderers disk includes 175 minutes of footage, while the fourth and concluding disk contains 150 minutes.  Both disks will retail for $29.98.