Anime Yoko's 'idol debut' box set

[Flyvapnet]

Gainax is actually giving [B][COLOR="Red"]Yoko Ritona[/COLOR][/B] center stage again, via what's billed as her "idol debut." It's a corporate turnaround by Gainax and comes as a most pleasant -- though long overdue -- surprise, after the dishonorable and shabby treatment Yoko endured in the anime and manga series [i]Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann[/i].

[quote]....a new Yoko character song-- titled "S.t.a.r.S.," is going to have an animated music video to go along with it, presumably done by Gainax. It's being released in a premium box set called [i]Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Kirameki * Yoko BOX ~Pieces of Stars~[/i]. It comes with a special box illustrated by character designer Atsushi Nishigori, a DVD that includes the music video, the song's CD from seiyuu Marina Inoue, and a 132-page booklet containing new Yoko illustrations....the DVD also has an interview with Inoue.[/quote]

[CENTER][img]http://flyvapnet.com/myPictures/YokoRitona/HappyYoko/YokoIdolBox01A.jpg[/img][/CENTER]

Below are the two Gainax locations of information on this product:

[quote][url=http://www.gurren-lagann.net/yoko/][b]天元突破グレンラガン　キラメキ☆ヨーコBOX -PIECES of SWEET STARS[/b][/url]

[url=http://www.gainax.co.jp/anime/gurren-lagann/news/0248.html][b]GAINAX NET｜Works｜Animation & Films｜天元突破 グレンラガン｜News&Topics[/b][/url][/quote]

As usual for myopic Gainax, there's no English-language option available. But, there's a partial English-language Web site which is taking pre-orders. It's located at....

[quote][url=http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E5%A4%A9%E5%85%83%E7%AA%81%E7%A0%B4%E3%82%B0%E3%83%AC%E3%83%B3%E3%83%A9%E3%82%AC%E3%83%B3-%E3%82%AD%E3%83%A9%E3%83%A1%E3%82%AD%E2%98%86%E3%83%A8%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B3BOX-%7EPieces-sweet-stars%7E%E3%80%90%E5%AE%8C%E5%85%A8%E7%94%9F%E7%94%A3%E9%99%90%E5%AE%9A%E3%80%91/dp/B001V70TA2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1236756467&sr=8-1][b]Amazon.co.jp: 天元突破グレンラガン キラメキ☆ヨーコBOX ~Pieces of sweet stars~【完全生産限定】 [DVD]: オリジナルアニメ: DVD[/b][/url][/quote]

It's due out in May, so I've gone ahead and pre-ordered it. My laptop computer lets me change regions back and forth, up to four or six times; and I've not yet changed it from Region 1, so I'm in luck there. On the other hand, I'm not literate in Japanese. Alas!

[CENTER][img]http://flyvapnet.com/myPictures/YokoRitona/HappyYoko/YokoIdolBox02A.jpg[/img][/CENTER]

In the event, it's great to know Yoko has a place in Gainax's future plans. Let's hope there's no stupid executive meddling this time, like there was with the anime series. I'm just happy to see Yoko [i]on her own[/i] -- being the star she is, unimpeded by male-superiority sexism. Even the knucklehead executives at Gainax finally got it through their thick skulls that [i]Yoko is popular[/i]. Duh!

[CENTER]:wave:

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