All SNK Anime buyable

It's come to my noticing that at most Babbage's store locations you can buy all the SNK animes. This includes Fatal Fury (both movies), Art of Fighting (comes with Battle Arena Toshinden, and Samuri Shodown. AOF and FF are about 30 bucks and, Samuri Shodown is only 16. I know this isn't probably the most exciting bit of info but I had no clue Sam Sho ever had an american release. Well if it never did it does now cheers and enjoy.

Fatal fury (the first movie) is great, SS is average and AOF looks like a city hunter episode.

That's actually not all the SNK anime. There are actually two other anime series (good ones) that never got a US release.

There's a Samurai Shodown in the Yuga story arc, in japan. Good stuff, actually. Very good and kind of dark.

Then there's the anime Nakoruru: A Present for somebody. From what I've seen, a decent anime. Verdict is out on whether it will rock like the Samurai Spirits Yuga episodes. Though Nak is a little out of propertion in this anime. Since when did she get a chest?

"Nakoruru: A present for somebody" was also one of those story games for PC and Dreamcast. The PC version is still floating around somewhere. Good luck finding the Dreamcast version, though. Still, it's not as hard as finding Athena: Awakening from the Ordinary life for PSX.

<small>[ August 22, 2003, 12:19 PM: Message edited by: Kirk Foiden ]</small>

Here's the complete rundown of the Japanese and U.S. releases of all the NEO-GEO anime productions:

Battle Fighters Garou Densetsu anime TV special
- released in Japan on VHS and LD [no R-2 DVD]
- released in the U.S. on VHS and DVD as "Fatal Fury: Legend of the Hungry Wolf"

Battle Fighters Garou Densetsu 2 anime TV special
- released in Japan on VHS and LD [no R-2 DVD]
- released in the U.S. on VHS and DVD as "Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle"

THE MOTION PICTURE Garou Densetsu theatrical anime film
- released in Japan on VHS and LD; R-2 DVD to be released 9/26/2003
- released in the U.S. on VHS and DVD as "Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture"

Battle Spirits Ryuuko no Ken anime TV special
- released in Japan on VHS and LD; R-2 DVD to be released 9/26/2003
- released in the U.S. on VHS and DVD as "Art of Fighting"

Samurai Spirits Haten Kouma no Shou anime TV special
- never released in Japan on VHS or LD; R-2 DVD to be released (at long last) 9/26/2003
- released in the U.S. on VHS as "Samurai Shodown: The Motion Picture" - DVD release 3/4/2003

Samurai Spirits 2 Asra Zanmaden original video animation Vols. 1-2
- released in Japan as 2 VHS, LD, or DVD volumes
- never released in the U.S.

Nakoruru ~Ano hito kara no okurimono~ Kyouri no iyuu-hen original video animation Vols. 1-2*
- vol. 1 released in Japan on VHS and DVD in May, 2002; vol. 2 not yet released*
- never released in the U.S.

Choujin Gakuen Gowcaizer original video animation Vols. 1-3
- released in Japan on 3 VHS or LD volumes; R-2 DVD finally released in early 2002
- released in the U.S. on 2 VHS vols. or 1 DVD vol. as "Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer"

Choujin Gakuen Gowcaizer International Edition digest film
- released in Japan on 1 VHS or LD vol.; R-2 DVD finally released in late 2002
- released in the U.S. on VHS and DVD as "Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer: The Movie"

As of 3/4/2003, every one of these works (with the exception of SS2 Asra Zanmaden and Nakoruru) is available in the U.S. on both VHS and DVD.

* According to <a href="http://www.saimax.net/ja/" target="_blank">DVD-X</a> (in my experience, a very reliable source of information on R-2 anime releases), Vol. 2 (the concluding vol.) of Nakoruru ~Ano hito kara no okurimono~ Kyouri no iyuu-hen has been cancelled. Still waiting to see confirmation of this on the series' <a href="http://www.groove.jp/anime/nakoruru/index.html" target="_blank">official website</a>, but I think that site's more likely to just disappear than be updated with cancellation news. I'm disappointed, but not surprised -- if you're looking at the production of two 30-minute episodes, and the first was released 15 months ago, (unless you're talking about Giant Robo The Animation) that second episode is probably not going to see the light of day.

--Chris

Avoid Samurai Shodown US release. The dub is ass and it's ALL that is available. Add on to that the fact the it sucked a rather big penis.

AOF was ass as well, whether in Japanese or English. Ryo appears to run the Rainbow Coalition Dojo (look at the sign for the Dojo), yet chases pussy the whole time (a cat that is). It's very bad. It's a waste of money unless it's given to you, along with SS.

Never seen FF Anime, but I've heard it's a lot better than the others available in the US.

Dash no Chris:

Choujin Gakuen Gowcaizer original video animation Vols. 1-3
- released in Japan on 3 VHS or LD volumes; R-2 DVD finally released in early 2002
- released in the U.S. on 2 VHS vols. or 1 DVD vol. as "Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer"

Choujin Gakuen Gowcaizer International Edition digest film
- released in Japan on 1 VHS or LD vol.; R-2 DVD finally released in late 2002
- released in the U.S. on VHS and DVD as "Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer: The Movie"

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why is voltage fighter gowcaizer a "SNK Anime"? SNK didn't make that poor excuse for a fighter, did they?

how are those first 3 volume thing things... i think all i've seen is the movie. and it's pretty bad/alright. i feel the need to defend Masami Obari's stuff most times, but i'm not quite sure if it's actually THAT good. i like all the FF movies, but the first one's kinda bore-tastic. Gowcaizer was an excuse to expand what he did with mai's breasts to a full feature length anime... not that i'm complaining... wait yes i am it sucked. FF was good and the mai boobage was just funny and weird on top of "cool" fights and stuff, but Gowcaizer was boobs on top of boobs on top of convoluted stupid story. etc...

i'd like to see the Sam Sho movies but... i can't imagine them being that good unless basara was the main character because basara=awesome.

yeah that's it pretty much,
xFPx

slerch666:
Avoid Samurai Shodown US release. The dub is ass and it's ALL that is available. Add on to that the fact the it sucked a rather big penis.

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Just finished some online double-checking, and it confirms what you said slerch -- English-language only on the Region-1 DVD Samurai Shodown: The Motion Picture. I just can't believe that ADV Films wouldn't have acquired the rights to the Japanese language track by now (especially given the number of fans in this country who won't touch dubs). Makes me all the more glad I've got the upcoming R-2 release preordered.

slerch666:
AOF was ass as well, whether in Japanese or English. Ryo appears to run the Rainbow Coalition Dojo (look at the sign for the Dojo), yet chases pussy the whole time (a cat that is). It's very bad. It's a waste of money unless it's given to you, along with SS.

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I had two big problems with the AoF anime. (1) The production company threw a perfectly good plot (the original one from the game) right out the window and replaced it with an incredibly shallow one of their own devising (the only thing it had in common with the game is Yuri being kidnapped). (2) Not a special move in sight. Given the number of innovative specials and supers the original game had (back in 1992), this was simply unforgivable.

slerch666:
Never seen FF Anime, but I've heard it's a lot better than the others available in the US.

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It is -- definitely worth your time. Really good soundtracks, too.

xFinnPetersx:
why is voltage fighter gowcaizer a "SNK Anime"? SNK didn't make that poor excuse for a fighter, did they?

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Never said it was an SNK anime -- if you look at my original post, the phrase I used was "NEO-GEO anime." Technos Japan made the Gowcaizer game, btw.

xFinnPetersx:
how are those first 3 volume thing things... i think all i've seen is the movie. and it's pretty bad/alright. i feel the need to defend Masami Obari's stuff most times, but i'm not quite sure if it's actually THAT good. i like all the FF movies, but the first one's kinda bore-tastic.

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The first 3 films on my list are the 3 FF films (FF, FF2, and FF The Movie).

xFinnPetersx:
i'd like to see the Sam Sho movies but... i can't imagine them being that good unless basara was the main character because basara=awesome.

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He's not in them (they're based on the Hyper 64 SamSpi games). If you like Asra, however, then you should definitely check them out.

--Chris

Dash no Chris:

xFinnPetersx:
why is voltage fighter gowcaizer a "SNK Anime"? SNK didn't make that poor excuse for a fighter, did they?

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Never said it was an SNK anime -- if you look at my original post, the phrase I used was "NEO-GEO anime." Technos Japan made the Gowcaizer game, btw.

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you could have just said "no it's neo-geo anime. snk did not make it." i wasn't trying to be sarcastic/jerk-y... everyone assumes the jerk switch is always stuck at on here on these boards.

Dash no Chris:

xFinnPetersx:
how are those first 3 volume thing things... i think all i've seen is the movie. and it's pretty bad/alright. i feel the need to defend Masami Obari's stuff most times, but i'm not quite sure if it's actually THAT good. i like all the FF movies, but the first one's kinda bore-tastic.

Click to expand...

The first 3 films on my list are the 3 FF films (FF, FF2, and FF The Movie).

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um yeah i was talking about the first three Gowcaizer things you mentioned. how are those. i don't paticularly like the movie and i wondered if those thing things were any better. i've seen all the FF movies which you can see in the post and the part you quoted, so... yeah.

Dash no Chris:

xFinnPetersx:
i'd like to see the Sam Sho movies but... i can't imagine them being that good unless basara was the main character because basara=awesome.

Click to expand...

He's not in them (they're based on the Hyper 64 SamSpi games). If you like Asra, however, then you should definitely check them out.

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no basara... me say "oh no!". but oh well i probably wasn't gonna bother with seeing them anyway. videogame anime is just about as bad as videogame cinema. it is all good if you love the characters, but if you're not 100% into the series/franchise it's not always worth the investment to see them.

smirk ,
xFPx

Dash no Chris:

slerch666:
Avoid Samurai Shodown US release. The dub is ass and it's ALL that is available. Add on to that the fact the it sucked a rather big penis.

Click to expand...

Just finished some online double-checking, and it confirms what you said slerch -- English-language only on the Region-1 DVD Samurai Shodown: The Motion Picture. I just can't believe that ADV Films wouldn't have acquired the rights to the Japanese language track by now (especially given the number of fans in this country who won't touch dubs). Makes me all the more glad I've got the upcoming R-2 release preordered.

--Chris

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What it probably was (this is my guess only), is that ADV never had the rights to the JPN track (this is obvious). It came to the point where the license for Samurai Spirits/shodown was nearing it's end, they either knew they wouldn't get the JPN track or didn't care (my guess is that they didn't care. In their panels they always seem to have the attitude "why would you watch subbed when out dubs are so great?" Yeah, whatever you cocksmokers) so they slap it on DVD to make a few dollars.

I say a few dollars, since this is like slapping shit on a plate and telling someone it's food. Yeah, it was food at one point, but not any more. This show is barely palatable in it's current US state. Add on to that the fact that I'm really not sure I would like the show overall even if it were in Japanese (the English dub KILLS this DVD) and I'm stuck with a $12 DVD that I'll NEVER watch again.

xFinnPetersx:

Dash no Chris:

xFinnPetersx:
why is voltage fighter gowcaizer a "SNK Anime"? SNK didn't make that poor excuse for a fighter, did they?

Click to expand...

Never said it was an SNK anime -- if you look at my original post, the phrase I used was "NEO-GEO anime." Technos Japan made the Gowcaizer game, btw.

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you could have just said "no it's neo-geo anime. snk did not make it." i wasn't trying to be sarcastic/jerk-y... everyone assumes the jerk switch is always stuck at on here on these boards.

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Ironically phrased, since I wasn't trying to be sarcastic with my previous post either (or this one).

xFinnPetersx:

Dash no Chris:

xFinnPetersx:
how are those first 3 volume thing things... i think all i've seen is the movie. and it's pretty bad/alright. i feel the need to defend Masami Obari's stuff most times, but i'm not quite sure if it's actually THAT good. i like all the FF movies, but the first one's kinda bore-tastic.

Click to expand...

The first 3 films on my list are the 3 FF films (FF, FF2, and FF The Movie).

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um yeah i was talking about the first three Gowcaizer things you mentioned. how are those. i don't paticularly like the movie and i wondered if those thing things were any better. i've seen all the FF movies which you can see in the post and the part you quoted, so... yeah.

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That was me misinterpreting your question. I thought you were asking about the first 3 items on my list (the 3 FF films), rather than the 3 Gowcaizer eps -- taken in that light, the references to what you'd seen were a bit contradictory and had me confused. My bad. As far as the 3 Gowcaizer OAV episodes versus the Gowcaizer movie... the movie is simply the 3 OAV episodes edited together, with some scenes removed, and the new 2-minute scene (featuring Necrocaizer) added in. If you didn't like the movie, I'm thinking you might not like the OAVs either.

--Chris

Dash no Chris:
If you didn't like the movie, I'm thinking you might not like the OAVs either.

--Chris

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thanks man. sorry for the pseudo-drama, i just wanted to make sure people/you/whoever know that i'm not about that.

the gowcaizer game also isn't that horrible, well i mean it is horrible, but it has the worst lifebars of any game ever. even beating out GG's.

the anime movie for gowcaizer wasn't too bad though, just pretty pointless. but i don't get tired of watching anime breasts bounce in slowmotion (oops i let the proverbial cat out of the proverbial bag) so... i'm all about gowcaizer.

but yeah thanks man... sorry if you tought i was being a jerk when i wasn't and sorry about being a jerk when i was,
xFPx

xFinnPetersx:

Dash no Chris:
If you didn't like the movie, I'm thinking you might not like the OAVs either.

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the gowcaizer game also isn't that horrible, well i mean it is horrible, but it has the worst lifebars of any game ever. even beating out GG's.

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Yeah, the game was disappointingly bad. With as much as Oobari contributed to the ever-increasing popularity of SNK's characters back in the early-to-mid-90s, you'd think that SNK itself might've developed the game (instead of making him work with Technos Japan). I thought the game had a great cast of characters, and some nice ideas (especially the Trace Hissatsuwaza [copyable special moves]), but the final product was completely substandard.

xFinnPetersx:
the anime movie for gowcaizer wasn't too bad though, just pretty pointless. but i don't get tired of watching anime breasts bounce in slowmotion

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In that case, you might want to check out the hentai anime projects Oobari's been working recently (some pretty funny stuff):
* Angel Blade （エンジェルブレイド）
(3-part OAV series; 30 mins per episode; story not yet concluded so we're expecting a new Angel Blade 2 series to be announced but no news yet; think Kekkou Kamen meets Cutey Honey, with lots of visual homages to VIRUS Buster Serge, Gowcaizer, and fighting games in general)
* Sore yuke Marin-chan （それゆけマリンちゃん）
(3-part OAV series; 30 mins per episode; story not yet concluded so we're expecting a new Marin-chan 2 series to be announced but no news yet)
* VIPER -GTS-
(3-part OAV series; 30 mins per episode; ep3 not yet released; the way this one's playing out, it may actually only have 3 eps -- but with the plots of Angel Blade and Marin-chan failing to wrap up after 3 eps each, perhaps Oobari's got a pattern going here...)

xFinnPetersx:
but yeah thanks man... sorry if you tought i was being a jerk when i wasn't and sorry about being a jerk when i was

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Ditto.

--Chris

I saw the Fatal Fury OAV's and did I like em?
Yes and no.

The first movie would have been flipping awesome if they had 30-45 more minutes to use. The whole thing felt rushed at the end. The learning of the (ridiculously stupid) ultimate attack, the Geese fight, and the relationship between Terry and Lilly were all rushed and had no development. If it had about 30 minutes like I said they could have made certain scenes longer and have more meaning. Geese is a fucking bad ass though. Repukens in the movies are fucking sick.

The second movie though I liked a lot. Except for the bad Martial art movie Cliches it was fun to watch. Krauser like Geese is a fucking Bad ass. This one had the length the first should have had and that gave it the time to develope that the first movie did not have.

My score card
Fatal Fury B-
Fatal Fury 2 B+

Dashnochris, you speak of a Fatal Fury the movie. This isn't the two OAV's am I correct? I was wondering why in a music video I have it shows so much Geese, Kim and Mai, action I never saw. This isn't US Available right?

OrochiEddie:
Dashnochris, you speak of a Fatal Fury the movie. This isn't the two OAV's am I correct? I was wondering why in a music video I have it shows so much Geese, Kim and Mai, action I never saw.

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Correct, "THE MOTION PICTURE Garou Densetsu" (aka "Fatal Fury The Motion Picture") is not a digest film of the first 2 Garou Densetsu / Fatal Fury films. Rather TMPGD/FFTMP is a 3rd film, released in Japanese movie theaters in 1994 (competing with the Street Fighter II theatrical anime film).

The first 2 GD/FF films ("Battle Fighters Garou Densetsu" and "Battle Fighters Garou Densetsu 2") were originally broadcast as anime TV specials, and were based on events in GD/FF (the original fight against Geese Howard minus his fall from Geese Tower) and GD2/FF2 (the fight against Wolfgang Krauser minus his facial hair). TMPGD/FFTMP, however, had an original story not based on the game series (in which Terry, Andy, Joe, and Mai agree to help a young girl (Suelia) in her efforts to prevent her brother (Laocorn) from recovering the fragments of an ancient, mystical set of armor).

All 3 films are available in the U.S., released by Viz Video as:
Fatal Fury: Legend of the Hungry Wolf
Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle
Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture

--Chris