Last month's column briefly mentioned the new Gun X Sword series, and based on the first two episodes, it looks like this one might have legs. You could certainly say it's the best new show of the season (which admittedly isn't saying much, since the competition this Summer seems to be entirely composed of unwatchable cutesy garbage).

Set in a futuristic frontier-like world, what starts off as a fairly straight western tale with bits of technology thrown in gets turned around when Van, our hero and cool dude with the sword, ends up requesting assistance from some sort of satellite docked battle armor that shoots down to him, enabling him to trounce his enemies in short order. It might sound a bit silly, but it sort of works, and it looks like the further travels of Van and Wendy - a girl he helps out in the first episode and who then decides to join him - in their respective quests (he: to find the clawed man who killed his bride, she: her missing brother) might actually be worth following.

As far as the visuals go, we're treated to top-notch animation that feels smooth the whole way through. Accompanied by a soundtrack that does its job (certainly better than the annoying keyboard tracks that bring Speed Grapher a notch down), character designs that have a nice look to them (sort of cross between Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo), and a story that, although not groundbreaking, seems like it might lead to some interesting adventures, Gun X Sword is certainly off to a good start. It airs Mondays at 25:30 on TV Tokyo.

Manglobe was behind a little show you might have enjoyed called Samurai Champloo (yes, extreme sarcasm is definitely intended here). The studio is now setting its sights on a new series called Ergo Proxy with a screenplay by Dai Sato, who also did the writing chores on Champloo. There's not much info out on the series, and no start date, but a short trailer at the official website promises a dark and gritty actioner with stylish character designs and an intriguing sci-fi setting. One to watch for.

For all you Ghibli devotees (and you are legion) impatiently waiting for something new to come out of the studio, expect to be partially sated with the release of a short, Sora Tobu Toshi Keikaku (A Flying City Plan), by director Yoshiyuki Momose. It will play with the upcoming live-action adaptation of the Touch manga, to be released in September.

Fans of Pizzicato Five-esque old school club pop sounds rejoice, as the soundtrack - which should take center stage since the short is said to have no spoken dialogue - is by Capsule. Momose and Ghibli have already worked together with Capsule on two music videos for the band - a clip for one of them, "Portable Airport," can be seen online (see the data section for link).

Black Jack, the classic manga series by Osamu Tezuka, is coming to the big screen at the end of the year in a new animated film directed by Tezuka's son, Makoto Tezuka. The new film, Futari no Kuroi Isha (The Two Black Doctors), will see the good doctor take on his arch-nemesis, Doctor Kiriko.

The June edition of this column included news of the live-action adaptation of the manga/anime comedy series Cromartie High School, and little did we know that the release of the film would be companied by controversy brought on by real baseball player Warren Cromartie. He is not the only one who gets lampooned, as all schools in the series are named after foreign baseball players that have come and played in Japan's Pro Yakyu leagu, but Cromartie took great offense, and threatened to sue. All was finally settled when the makers of the film agreed to tack on a warning claiming that all names used in the film were intended as spoof (duh!).

Some more movies news, and relating to a series that has been praised constantly (and deservedly) in this column. New Line Cinema is currently working on a live-action adaptation of Naoki Urasawa's Monster, with John Olsen (A History of Violence, which was also based on a graphic novel) doing the writing. As always, any Hollywood undertaking comes with worries of unnecessary transformations and silly casting decisions (Rob Schneider as Lupin III - say it ain't so), but here's hoping for something that does justice to a terrific series. As for the currently airing (Tuesdays at 24:50 on NTV) animated series, we've entered the final stretch, and things have never been more interesting.

If you've ever had a chance to read an issue of Masashi Tanaka's terrific Gon manga, telling the silent tale (there's no dialogue throughout) of the craziest mean-tempered little dinosaur you'll even encounter, then rejoice to the news that Sprite Animations Studios is going to adapt the series for a theatrical all-CG animated film, to be released in 2007. It will be directed by Moto Sakakibara (Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within). If this is done properly, retaining the same tone as the book (and the absence of dialogue), this could end up being the most anticipated - and talked about - film of the year.

Seems like Mamoru Oshii is keeping himself busy with various projects. On top of the previously mentioned Tachiguishi Retsuden (see the May column), he is set to do the writing for Kenta Fukusaku's next project, Eru no Ran, for Production I.G. The film would be based on the 1990 riots that occurred in Kamagasaki (in Osaka) between the police force and laborers. Also, for those of you not able to attend the Aichi Expo in order to experience Oshii's Mezame no Hakobune (Open Your Mind) multimedia installation at the Mountains of Dreams pavilion, a DVD that tries to replicate the show will see a release later this month (August 24).

Since the original exhibition takes place in a 20-meter high theatre and parts are projected on one of the world's largest video screen to create a three-dimensional performance piece, you won't get anything close to the experience that Oshii has tried to create, but it should still offer up a taste of the gorgeous visuals that accompany the piece. And if you're hoping for another Oshii-directed Ghost in the Shell film, don't hold your breath - Production I.G would love to see it happen, but Oshii does not appear to be interested, and would rather work on new non-GITS projects.

Lastly, for those who have been anxiously awaiting a second episode of Tatsunoko's Karas, great news: it starts airing today (August 12) on PPV (Perfect Choice), with repeated showings throughout the week. Check the data section for a link to air times.