SATURDAY SCOOPS
Sounds of anime come into the limelight

By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

In "Princess Mononoke," Ashitake, the last young warrior of the dying Emishi clan, is forced to kill a monster to protect his village. "Princess Mononoke" is one of only two films to ever break $150 million at Japanese box offices -— the other being "Titanic." The music from the movie has been included in KUMU broadcasts of music from anime. Miramax photo / Advertiser photo illustration

Perhaps you cranked up the 311, Blink 182, and Sum 41 in the car this morning. But where was the Galaxy Express 999, Cyborg 009 or Ranma 1/2?

This music makes up some of the varied sounds of anime, or Japanese animation — a collector's craze in Hawai'i. (The sublime "Princess Mononoke" is one of the most familiar examples for U.S. residents.) Fans and newbies can get an earful from 6 to 8 p.m. today when KUMU AM 1500 broadcasts a special two-hour edition of its new program, "Anime in the Limelight."

The play list for "Anime in the Limelight" includes jazz and country, heavy metal and classical, all culled from four decades of original anime soundtracks. The show, produced by Limelight Media, has been broadcasting over the Internet since 1997, attracting an average of 3,000 visitors each month with its eclectic mix of music.

"Legendary anime DJ" Max provides the introductions, historical notes and other anime arcana. Coincidentally, Max bears a eerie resemblance to Milton Streeter, Limelight's vice president of broadcast services.

Limelight began broadcasting a weekly half-hour show on KUMU in late August, in a move motivated by a desire to reach new audiences — and to help keep the show alive in the face of stringent royalty requirements and other regulations on Webcasters imposed by the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

"Part of it was self-preservation," said Streeter. "But it also occurred to us that there isn't much in Hawai'i in terms of alternative radio."

While listenership numbers aren't available yet, Limelight sales and marketing v.p. William Grant said he hopes the state's estimated 40,000 to 50,000 anime fans will find and support the program. Limelight plans to market the show for national air play as early as January 2003.

After a four-month layoff, "Anime in the Limelight" is also back up and running on the Internet at www.limepub.com/radio.html.

Note to anime fans: "Spirited Away," from the creator of "Princess Mononoke," is scheduled to open in Honolulu Oct. 11. The Hayao Miyazaki film is being distributed by Disney, and observers say this could be the breakthrough vehicle for anime in the United States.

You still have time to sign up for this year's Race for the Cure

Join the thousands of women and a whole bunch of men, too, as they raise money in the fight against breast cancer at the Susan G. Komen Hawaii Race for the Cure. It's not too late; you can still register — $25 — at today's packet pickup, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Aloha Tower Marketplace's Mauka Room.

Or at the very least, cheer on the runners, joggers and walkers at Kapi'olani Park, where the race starts at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow (late packet pickup is scheduled for 6-6:45 a.m. tomorrow).

About 75 percent of the race money raised in Hawai'i will go toward local projects that include education, and breast-cancer screening and treatment. The rest helps finance research and educational grants awarded through the national organization.

Notes to race participants: This year's 5K route is different, heading several blocks into Waikiki instead of the around-the-park trek of previous years. The one-mile walk, beginning at 7:45 a.m., will circle the zoo. Also, a trolley can take you from and to Kapi'olani Community College, because we all know how scarce parking is in those parts. The trolley runs from 6 to 10:30 a.m.

Log on at www.raceforthecurehawaii.org. Or phone 754-1817.

Festivals in full swing on Neighbor Islands

The Aloha Festivals continue on the Neighbor Islands, with events ranging from ho'olaule'a to parades. For example:

• The downtown Hilo Ho'olaule'a, with music, arts and crafts and food booths, is scheduled from 4 to 11 p.m. today. It's free. And there's the Great Waikoloa Ho'olaule'a from noon to 7 p.m. today at the Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Big Island. Free with Aloha Festivals ribbon.
• It's Children's Day, featuring the Royal Court and Hawaiian crafts, from 9 a.m. today at the Lyman House Museum on the Big Island. Free admission with Aloha Festivals ribbon.
• The Queen Lili'uokalani Festival, offering music, food booths, and arts and crafts takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow at Lili'uokalani Gardens in Hilo. Free with Aloha Festivals ribbon.
• On Lana'i there's a parade from 9 to 11 a.m. and a ho'olaule'a from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today in Lana'i City.
• And Moloka'i hosts a parade at 9 a.m. in Kaunakakai and a ho'olaule'a at 11 a.m. today at the Mitchell Pau'ole Center.

Don't forget to wear your Aloha Festivals ribbon ($5) to show your support for the annual cultural showcase.

Study confirms pets are nature's Prozac

Instead, go get a dog or a cat to calm your frazzled nerves.

State University of New York-Buffalo researchers, whose study is in the September/October issue of Psychosomatics, visited the homes of 120 couples who had owned a dog or cat for at least six months, and an equal number of couples who'd been pet-free for at least five years.

While everyone in the study had normal blood pressures and heart rates to start with, those with pets had lower baseline measures. During the tests, those without pets suffered more stress.

These results join a continuing body of work about pets and their positive effects on people.

Diavolo dancers dare to defy gravity

You've got to see it to believe it — dancers/gymnasts/actors who leap, spin, fall off and cling to all manner of props and structures on stage. It's the Los Angeles-based Diavolo Dance Theatre, performing for the final night tonight at Leeward Community College Theatre. Tickets are $30 general, $25 students, military and seniors; reserved tickets cost an additional $5. Phone 455-0385. A question-and-answer session takes place after the performance.

A day for saying thanks to all the grandparents

They spoil the kids. They offer sympathy and safe haven for two generations. They hold a lifetime of knowledge and world experience. Ah, grandparents!

It's time to celebrate the older generation, as Grandparents' Day at the Hawaii Children's Discovery Center unfolds in Kaka'ako tomorrow with a photo exhibit, more picture-taking, hands-on activities (get into bubbles and goop!) and free popcorn, bananas and fresh pineapple juice. And don't forget the interactive displays in the museum.

The event — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — kicks off Intergenerational Week (tomorrow through Oct. 6). Admission is $3 for each grandparent with one child's paid admission of $6.75, and $8 for adults. (Grandparents can get in free with an HMSA card and photo ID, and the child's paid admission.) Children younger than 2 get in free. Phone 948-6398 or 524-5437.

The center, at Kaka'ako Waterfront Park, is a nonprofit museum for kids of all ages. Its regular hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Search for 'Enterprise' is over: 10:30 p.m. Saturdays, KGMB-9

Attention, couch potatoes! Attention, "Star Trek" fans! We know you've been looking for the latest "Trek" television series, "Enterprise," on local stations; once it was on KFVE, but with network affiliations all mixed up, it went into some sort of space-time void. Sort of.

Voila! It now airs at 10:30 p.m. Saturdays, beginning today, on KGMB Channel 9. Yes, Trekkers, that time slot isn't the greatest, but that's what they make VCRs for.

"Enterprise" is led by Capt. Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula), whose missions take place a century before those of the much-vaunted (by some, but we don't really want to start that debate, do we?) Capt. Kirk (William Shatner).

For you die-hard Trekkies, reruns of "Voyager" continue at 9 p.m. weekdays on KFVE. Reruns of "Next Generation" air on the cable channel TNN, including a seven-episode marathon beginning at 11 a.m. tomorrow. "Next Generation" generally airs at 5 and 8 p.m. weekdays, with occasional schedule shifts around wrestling programs and other good stuff, and a mini marathon of episodes on Fridays beginning at 5 p.m.

It's always best to check TV listings or just channel surf. Only the android Data can truly keep up with the "Trek" universe.