Anime Network Online have let us know that they are proud to premiere the comedy series “ICHIBAN USHIRO NO DAIMAO” this month.

The series is directed by Takashi Watanabe who has been involved with such anime as Slayers, Boogiepop Phantom and Fist of the North Star. Here’s a synopsis for you:

From Marvelous Entertainment (Mushi-shi, Air Gear) and Artland (Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Legend of the Galactic Heroes) comes the story of young Akuto Sai, a new student at Constan Magical Academy. On the day of admittance, his aptitude test has predicted his future occupation as…Devil King. And so begins the trials and tribulations of school life as he is hounded by do-gooders, self appointed protectors, and overzealous followers. In this school, there’s no rest for the Devil King.

The series is available to view in ANO’s online player from April 2nd 2010. You need to be a registered user to watch the show but registration is free, and apparently so is viewing the simulcast!

You can visit Anime Network Online at www.theanimenetwork.com, and be sure to check the time listings.

Maybe it’s because of Friends, but I love Jennifer Aniston. She seems like a great person and a great girlfriend to have drinks with. Might be why I look forward to each movie she’s in.

Today we received the trailer for The Switch. It’s a comedy with the very funny, Jason Bateman. It also features Jeff Goldblum and Juliette Lewis. In The Switch, Jennifer’s character Kassie, decides it’s time to have a baby by herself with the help of a sperm donor. But something happens with a last minute switch that isn’t discovered until seven years later. Sounds confusing, but it features some very funny people. So watch the trailer and judge for yourself!

Release Date: 07/10/2009
Languages: English
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 120.0 mins

You may remember Tripod. They appeared at the Microsoft Keynote during CES 2009. Apparently they didn’t go down the way it was hoped when it came to entertaining the audience – which our own Angels Trina and Cherith were part of. If you don’t know of Tripod, let me introduce you.

Tripod are a group of 3 men who formed while they were in university. After a bit of busking at malls, they appeared in a TV variety show competition where they got their big break. They soon performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and began to appear on radio. Their popularity has since seen them produce many a CD and DVD.

Members Scod (Scott Edgar), Yon (Simon Hall) and Gatesy (Steven Gates) perform musical numbers that are sometimes parodies of well-known songs or satirical takes on everyday observations and musings. Their material isn’t just based on this however – their antics during numbers can be just as amusing. The boys are also geeks at heart having used subjects such as Star Wars and Dungeons & Dragons in their work.

Lately their humour has (to me) been declining, which is evident in the release of “Tripod: Live at Woodford”. Here they perform 12 songs at the Woodford Folk Festival. The audience themselves appeared to mainly consist of young people (many of whom probably weren’t old enough to have been there). It left me feeling a little bored, but not as much as the special features did to be honest.

Speaking of Special Features:

• How to train an attack dog from scratch: a made-up history of the funny song

From left: Gatesy, Scod and Yon

Don’t get me wrong, I love watching Tripod’s performances. In this case however, I didn’t enjoy it as much. If they had chosen a different venue (with a more controlled environment) and used better material, I would have given this a more positive review. Sorry Tripod, but I wasn’t with you on this one!

Review product was provided by Madman Entertainment, and does not affect the outcome of this review.

Images © 2009 Tripod

Copyright BEAST MASTER © 2007 Kyousuke MOTOMI/Shogakukan

Another title comes to the Shoujo Beat imprint from Viz Media just in time for the holidays.

Beast Master is the story of Leo Aoi, a boy with animal like features but no inclinations towards them. When he transfers to a new school, no one except the animal loving Yukio Kubozuka will even go near him. While he looks frightening, the only thing that causes him to go wild is the sight of blood.

Beast Master combines romance, comedy and drama into an amazing adventure. Look for it on store shelves as of November 3rd. Rated T+ for older teen.

Order it now from RightStuf!

When Tokura (Koizumi Kotaro) makes the mistake of mocking the shopping channel’s #1 hostess (Aisu, as in Antarctic Ice, due to her cold heart), he finds himself sent to the call center. Out here in the middle of nowhere are the people who man the phone lines for ordering and customer complaints. However, this group of specialists does more than just listen to complaints, they go out of their way to make sure the customer is completely satisfied. Even if that means upsetting the main office in Tokyo doing so. Each episode had one product that is focused on, whether it be a flashlight, video camera, workout DVD or discounted food, as well as a customer connected to it that seems to be uniquely tied to the item.

In the beginning, Tokura gets along with no one. He is hellbent on getting back into favour and returning to the main office. Over time and as he takes part in the adventures the customer complaints division seems to inevitably get into, he comes to find that he does indeed enjoy his work.

One of his coworkers, Aoyama Kyoko, is most dedicated to her work. She has also had a run-in with the shopping channel’s queen and has been focused on customer satisfaction. She barely sleeps at her apartment, choosing to work several night shifts on call, sleeping on the office couch. Every product featured on the channel she tests out and carefully reads over the manuals. Finding out what exactly happened between her and Aisu is a side-hobby of Tokura’s throughout the show.

Will Tokura ever go back to the main office? Will he discover the reason for the animosity between Aoyama and Aisu? Watch and find out!

Original Air Dates: July 3 to Sept 11, 2009
Number of Episodes: 10 episodes
Genre: Comedy
Broadcast Network: TV Asahi

Their clients Switchblade Pictures and Sentai Filmworks are bringing out 5 new DVD releases for the most festive month on the calendar. Hopefully Santa is taking notes.

From Switchblade, we’ll see 2 live-action film releases: an animal thriller called Gun-Kyu ~ War Pigeon, and a sword & sorcery double-feature Makiriko / Battler Sienne Matra. Gun-Kyu ~ War Pigeon is expected to be released on December 8th at the price of $19.98US, while the Makiriko / Battler Sienne Matra movies are expected to release on December 1st at the price of $19.98US.

Sentai Filmworks are bringing out 3 releases: the first volume of a comedy series called To Love Ru, and the second volumes of Clannad After Story and Ghost Hound. To Love Ru is going to be released on December 15th and will be priced at $39.98US, Clannad After Story is going to be released December 8th and will be $39.98US, and finally Ghost Hound will be out December 15th and will cost $59.98US.

Volume 2 of 2

Release Date: 01/04/2009
Audio tracks: English 2.0
Languages: English
Genre: Comedy, Family, Kids, Retro Collection
Subtitles: None
Number of Discs: 3
Runtime: 300.0 mins

You would think after all of these years that somebody would have told all of the little cherubs out there where Sesame Street is, right? But where would be the fun in that?

I would assume that, like myself, almost everyone grew up watching Sesame Street. Now you can revisit your childhood, and your own little cherubs can join you too!

While this edition is dated pre-me (I was born in ’82), it still has segments that I remember seeing as a kid such as little John-John and one of the monsters. There were also appearances by some celebrities too – although I only knew Lily Tomlin (who played Edith), Henry Winkler and Ron Howard. Who knew Richie Cunningham didn’t know how to brush his teeth?

An afternoon or two could be spent going over all of the Sesame Street goodies, but I would say at least hire it to show your kids if you don’t know whether to buy it. Anyway, it’s still got its “Old School” charm!

(c) Sesame Workshop?, Sesame Street? and associated characters, trademarks and design elements are owned and licensed by Sesame Workshop. ? 2008 Sesame Workshop. All Rights Reserved. Muppets? is a trademark of Muppets Holding Company, LLC.

The changes in his routine start one night when the girl living in the condo next to his comes by to complain about the incredibly loud music blaring through the walls. When he collapses on the floor, his neighbor has him brought to the hospital. It’s here where Shinsuke meets Natsumi, as she is the doctor who is treating him. And even though he is extremely rude to her, Natsumi does her duty and begins to treat Shinsuke.

Things really start to get interesting when Natsumi and Michiru (the neighbor) meet Shinsuke’s collegues, Eiji and Maya, and the four of them share stories about their experiences with the architect. None of them can believe there is anyone out there who would be the least bit interested in marrying a man like him.

But more and more, as Shinsuke finds himself surrounded by people, he wonders if solitude is really what he wants for the rest of his life. Does he really want to find someone that he can be with, and real friends that will be there to support him and encourage him when things aren’t so good? Maybe there is someone out there who would be interested in marrying someone as odd as he.

Natsumi & Shinsuke

Hiroshi Abe, the actor who plays Shinsuke, is one of my favourite Japanese actors. His roles are so diverse, and he’s always enjoyable to watch on screen. Hiroshi has been in over 60 Japanese TV series and movies (including Shiroi Haru which I am currently watching, At Home Dad, and My Little Chef) and is someone I will watch again and again.

Original Air Dates: July 4 to Sept 19, 2006
Number of Episodes: 12 episodes
Genre: Comedy
Broadcast Network: Fuji TV