Over 600 reported sick after POCKET MONSTERS anime airing

Several hundred people, mostly children, reportedly became sick nationwide in Japan on 16 December after watching a rapidly-flickering scene in POCKET MONSTERS, a TV Tokyo animation program based on a Nintendo Game Boy game series. The diagnosed symptoms of nausea, breathing troubles, convulsions, and loss of consciousness are similar to those of visually-induced epileptic illnesses. Japan's Fire Defense Agency reported 685 affected people were admitted into hospitals of 30 prefectures by the following day.
POCKET MONSTERS (Poketto Monsuta-, abbreviated as "PokeMon") is Japan's most popular game of 1997 with an anime tie-in, according to Oricon Data. The first two versions (Red and Green) sold almost 1 million copies each since 27 February 1996, over twice as many copies as NEO SUPER ROBOT WAR. The series currently features 151 monsters for players to raise and play against each other by linking game units. By far the most popular one is Pikachuu, a monster distantly related to mice. The Game Boy series has since spawned a Blue version, upcoming Gold and Silver versions scheduled for March 1998, several manga adaptations, a hit single, a trading card game, the animation series containing the controversial scene, and a scheduled two-part theatrical release next summer.
The animated "comedic adventure drama" version takes places in the immediate future where human coexist with mysterious beings named Pocket Monsters. Kids as young as ten years old are allowed to take care of them as pets, and people travel around the world to become the greatest Pocket Monster Trainers. Pikachuu is the main monster character in the series despite being able to speak only the syllables "Pi-ka-chu-u." (Pikachuu's special power is electric. Despite its dimunitive size and usually benign demeanor, Pikachuu's main weapon is an ability to emanate gigantic sparks that can defeat almost any monster.)
The episode under scrutiny (Episode 38, "Computer Warrior Polygon"/"Dennou Senshi Porigon") debuted in Tokyo at 6:30 in the evening on Tuesday, 16 December 1997 (or 1:30 in the morning the same day Pacific Standard Time). About twenty minutes into the episode, Pikachuu and its human friends Satoshi, Kasumi, and Takeshi are going inside a computer and encounter a fighter named Polygon before a battle. During the sequence, the program flashed 105 alternating red- and white-lit images in five seconds.
Pocket Monsters is animated by Shogakukan Production and directed by Hidaka Masamitsu. In Tokyo's Kanto Region, Pocket Monsters is the most popular program in its timeslot since its 1 April debut with ratings averaging 15 percent to 20 percent according to Video Research. (The current episode received a 16.5 rating.) 36 stations affiliated with TV Tokyo broadcast the series at different times, although those that had not aired the episode Tuesday have announced they suspended its airing. In addition, several video chains announced they will no longer rent out the series. Since then, animation fans in Japan have publically requested copies of the current episode on bulletin board systems and Internet newsgroups.

Remastered Honneamise screened at Tokyo film festival

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of THE ROYAL SPACE FORCE: WINGS OF HONNEAMISE, the Tokyo Fantastic Film Festival '97 screened a remastered version of the 1987 film. The Sound Renewal Edition of the first feature-length project from Gainax premiered on November 2 with newly engineered 5+1 Channel Dolby Digital sound, followed by an additional two-week run at Tachikawa Cine-City 2 in Tokyo. Other animated films featured at this year and past years' Tokyo Fantastic Film Festival (a sister event of the Tokyo International Film Festival) include MACROSS PLUS MOVIE EDITION, MEMORIES, GHOST IN THE SHELL, and PERFECT BLUE.

Tomino's Brain Powerd debuts in Shonen Ace

BRAIN POWERD (deliberately spelled with only one "E"), the next anticipated animated project from the creator of GUNDAM, begins its manga adaptation in Kadokawa's Monthly Shonen Ace. Tomino Yoshiyuki begins writing this story of a young robot pilot in the near future in the current issue, cover-dated January 1997. (Shonen Ace previously ran MOBILE SUIT CROSSBONE GUNDAM, another manga written by Tomino, from its premiere issue in 1994 until 1997.) Sugisaki Yukiru draws the art after having finished the GRADUATION M manga in Kadokawa's Asuka shoujo magazine.

Largest Valkyrie model, VF-X II in Macross's future

Big West's 15th anniversary commemoration of THE SUPER DIMENSION FORTRESS MACROSS continues next year with a 1:24 Valkyrie model and a PlayStation game sequel. Along with the recent release of MACROSS action figures, Arii revealed the prototype for the largest regular-production model ever of the Valkyrie fighter (specifically the VF-1S Roy Focker Special). Ninomiya Shigeyuki designed this non-transformable soft vinyl/plastic injection hybrid model that Arii plans to sell for 29800 yen next year. (Bandai Visual plans to give away a different 1:48 VF-1 Super Valkyrie fighter model to three 15th Anniversary Memorial Box purchasers in a drawing.) In addition, Kawamori Shouji and Bandai confirms plans are still going forward for the Sony PlayStation game release of MACROSS DIGITAL MISSION VF-X II, tentatively set for next year.