Genshiken Spinoff Story To Be Told in Japanese Novel

Original manga creator Shimoku Kio draws novel's coverThe official website for the Genshiken television anime series has announced that Artdink game creator Kazutoshi Iida (Doshin the Giant, Aquanaut's Holiday) will publish "another Genshiken story" under Kodansha's KC Novels imprint on January 23. Shimoku Kio, the creator of the original manga about life in an otaku college club, has drawn the prose novel's cover. Genshiken Hainyū Ranjin no Yabō~Return of the OTAKU~ will be published on January 23 for 940 yen (about US$8.20). Iida's personal blog hints at a game tie-in with the manga. Kodansha also published the original manga, which Del Rey published in English.

Source: Ogiue Maniax via Heisei Democrac viaAnime News Network

Anime News

Shigofumi Trailer Online

The official homepage for the upcoming Shigofumi anime television series now hosts a 2:30 long streaming trailer. The series is scheduled to premier in January.

Source: Moon Phase

Kemeko Deluxe Anime Announced

Japanese publisher MediaWorks has formally announced development of an anime television series adaptation of Masakazu Iwasaki's sci-fi romantic comedy manga series Kemeko-Deluxe. Iwasaki may be best known to Americans as the creator of the Popo-Can manga, published in America by Infinity Studios. The Kemeko Deluxe anime "pilot film" is available on the official Kemeko Deluxe homepage.

The 2008 television series will be directed by Haré+Guu director Tsutomu Mizushima and animated by Hal Film Maker (DearS, Princess Tutu).

Source: Anime News Network & Tokyo Anime Center

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu Anime Announced

Japanese publisher MediaWorks has announced an anime television series (and drama CD) adaptation of Yusaku Igurashi's romantic comedy light novel series Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu (Haruka Nogizaki's Secret), a story about a high school boy that discovers that the most respected girl in school is secretly an anime otaku. The anime adaptation is planned for release next year.

Source: Anime News Network

Shina Dark Anime Announced

Japanese publisher MediaWorks has formally announced development of an anime television series adaptation of Bunjuro Nakayama & Yukari Higa's fantasy manga series Shina Dark ~Kuroki Tsuki no Ou to Soheki no Tsuki no Himegimi~. Reportedly the anime series will be produced by Shaft (Tsukuyomi ~Moon Phase~, Negima!?) and directed by Akiyuki Shinbou (Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei).

Source: Moon Phase

Vampire Knight Shōjo Manga to be Animated for TV

Popular school horror manga is being released in English by Viz Media

The January issue (on sale November 24) of Hakusensha's LaLa shōjo magazine has announced that Matsuri Hino's Vampire Knight manga will be animated for television in Japan. The horror manga takes place in Cross Academy, where the student body is divided into the "regular" Day Class and the "elite" Night Class. Yuki Cross, the adopted daughter of the headmaster, is one of the few people in the entire school who knows that the Night Class are vampires. Yuki herself was attacked by a vampire — and saved by another — as a child. As such, she joins the Guardians, a student group that struggles to maintain the delicate balance between the two classes. Zero, Yuki's childhood friend and one of the Day Class Guardians, happens to be a latent vampire who keeps sane by drinking blood voluntarily offered by Yuki. Meanwhile, the student president of the Night Class is Kaname — the same vampire who saved Yuki as a child.

Viz Media started publishing the original manga in English in January. Four drama CDs have already been offered to LaLa and LaLa DX magazine readers in Japan, but no announcement has been made on the cast or staff of the animated version.

Source: Moon Phase

Square Enix Won't Nail Down Dragon Quest IX Release Date

♦Square Enix Won't Nail Down Dragon Quest IX Release Date

By Chris Kohler

 

Same As It Ever Was Dept.: At a shareholders meeting in Japan today, Square Enix executives said that they won't nail down a release date for Dragon Quest IX, which is coming to Nintendo DS in 2008.

You don't say. Dragon Quest games can't ever seem to make it out in Japan without a volley of delays and uncertainty. This is so routine in Japan that it was just parodied in Game Center CX, down to the last detail: The parody RPG in the game gets a December 31 release date (check), promises up to the last minute that they'll make schedule (check), then a delay into nowhere for vague reasons containing the word "quality" (check).

Seriously, this is like a pathology. Check out this IGN article from 1999.

Dragon Quest VII Delayed
The highly anticipated Japanese RPG from Enix has been delayed once again.

November 17, 1999 - Heart Beat today announced that Dragon Quest VII, which was scheduled for a December 29, 1999 release for the Sony PlayStation in Japan, has been delayed. The release postponement was made because Heart Beat, the company developing the game, felt that more time was needed to guarantee a high-quality game for the consumer. A new release date was not given, but the company says that they will announce more details as soon as they are decided.

You could seriously just replace the numbers and run the same story.

Why does this happen? To their credit, Square Enix does realize that Dragon Quest is way too important to go screwing around with, and releasing anything but a remarkably polished product that sells four million units in a day would be a gigantic failure. I am not exaggerating. If they sold two million copies of Dragon Quest IX in Japan, it would be read as the beginning of the end of the company. So everything has to be perfect. If that means releasing all three Dragon Quest remakes on the DS to prime the pump first, then they'll do it (and it's looking very likely that they'll do exactly that).

Of course, it's also important to remember that Dragon Quest IX, above and beyond all other editions of the series, has had a major development overhaul. It was originally shown to be an online action RPG in which four players could team up to adventure together. This sounded like a fun concept, but it also drastically changed the nature of Dragon Quest, which since the series began has been the most straightforward Japanese RPG of them all, never wavering from the standard tropes.

Faced with severe fan backlash, Square Enix then showed the game with bog-standard Dragon Quest gameplay and all was right with the world. (Although if I was the brash young visionary at Level 5 who came up with the first idea, I'd be a bit annoyed.) But they quickly delayed it, and now it's back into limbo. After disappointing sales of their last n games, they're hoping it eventually becomes the big hit Square Enix needs to prove they're still on top.

Dragon Quest Release Date Not Decided [Game Watch]

Source: Wired Magazine

Hidamari Sketch's Second Season Announced

Hidamari Sketch x 365 high-school slice-of-life anime set for 2008

A second season for the Hidamari Sketch anime series has been announced via posters at November 18's Chō Hida Matsuri (Super Hida Festival) event. The Hidamari Sketch x 365 anime project is planned for 2008 in Japan, along with reportedly more events and a one-year Hidamari Radio program that personality Kana Asumi (Hidamari Sketch's Yuno) will start hosting in January. Hidamari Sketch is based on Ume Aoki's manga about a high school for the arts and the everyday life of four of its students. The first season aired from January to March on the TBS/MBS television network in Japan. The first of two special episodes screened at the TBS Anime Festa 2007 event in Tokyo from August 11 to August 12, and both special episodes ran on the BS-i satellite channel on October 18.

Source: 2ch, Moon Phase Anime Schedule

Haruhi Tissue Boxes

The Japanese store kamikau.com has begun offering The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya tissue boxes in 20 different styles in an exclusive online sale that started on November 12. Each style sells for 525 yen (about US$4.74, tax included) and features artwork from the high school comedy anime series on five sides — and incidentally, 100 double-ply sheets of plain white tissue. A complete set of 20 boxes sells for 10,500 yen (US$94.75). The site also offers a tissue-box-sized acrylic case for 2,100 yen (US$18.95) to keep the tissue in mint, unused condition.

If none of the 20 pre-made styles match the home decor, customers can run a free applet to create "My Tissue Box," a customized layout. For the same 525-yen price, each custom layout can include any five images from those in the 20 pre-made styles.

Source: animeanime.jp

Anime News

Broccoli Licenses New Yaoi Manga

Broccoli's Boysenberry Books line of English translated yaoi manga has acquired distribution rights to Nase Yamato's "Cigarette Kisses" (Kuchibiru no Yukue).

Source: Anime on DVD

Media Blasters Hiring

Media Blasters is seeking a full-time professional position subtitling foreign language content into English language DVDs, and a fluent, full time English-Japanese translator. Qualifications and application guidelines are available from Anime on DVD.

Media Blasters Acquires New Live Action Titles

Media Blasters CEO John Sirabella has revealed, on the Anime on DVD Forum, the acquisition of translation rights to one of the Lone Wolf & Cub live action television series, based on the manga by Kazuo Koike & Goseki Kojima. Anime News Network has confirmed that the license is for the 1973 television series (as opposed to the 2002 series).
Mr. Sirabella has also revealed Media Blaster's acquisition of distribution rights to the 2006 children's movie Gamera: Chiisaki Yusha Tachi, also known as "Gamera the Brave."

Subaru Live Action Movie in Production

The Sankei Sports Newspaper reports that a Japanese produced live action feature film adaptation of Masahito Soda's best selling manga series "Subaru," the story of an underdog ballerina in training, is now in production in China under the watch of director Lee Chi-Ngai. The film stars Japanese actresses Meisa Kuroki as Subaru and Kaori Momoi as Subaru's instructor.

Source: Anime News Network

Detroit Metal City Versus Berserk

As part of a new advertising campaign promoting the November 29th release of Kentaro Miura's Berserk manga volume 32 and Kiminori Wakasugi's Detroit Metal City manga volume 4, Japanese publisher Hakusensha has released the first animated video in a series of 3 shorts depicting Detroit Metal City's Johannes Krauser II versus Berserk's Gutts. The second short will go online on the 21st, and the final clip will premier on the 28th.

Source: Moon Phase

New Detail on Detroit Metal City Anime

Hakusensha's Young Animal Magazine has revealed that the planned Detroit Metal City anime, based on Kiminori Wakasugi's popular manga, will apparently be an OVA, animated by acclaimed studio 4°C (Mind Game, Genius Party).

Lost Universe Producer Interview Online

In anticipation of its domestic re-release of the 1998 Lost Universe anime television series, Nozomi Entertainment has opened its official American Lost Universe homepage, which features an interview with series producer Kazuto Imanishi.

Source: Anime on DVD

Daisuki Drama Announced

The TBS television network has announced plans to develop a live action television series adaptation of Mizuho Aimoto's manga series "Daisuki!! Yuzu no Kosodate Nikki," a story about a mentally disabled woman with the mind of an 8-year-old, who falls in love with a man with a similar disability. She becomes pregnant, but he dies in an accident, leaving her alone to raise their child. The television drama will star model and actress Karina. The series is scheduled to premier on January 17th.

Source: Ultimatum & Tokyograph

WildLife Drama Announced

Shogakukan's Shonen Sunday Magazine has announced that Fujisaki Masato's popular manga series WildLife will be adapted as a live action TV series. WildLife is the story of a high school delinquent who becomes a veternarian.

Source: Ultimatum

Anime News

Murakami's Los Angeles Opening Attracts Celebrities

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles ended its opening for Takashi Murakami's anime-influenced exhibition with a Sunday gala of celebrities, including music producer Pharrell Williams (live-action Voltron project) and actress Christina Ricci (live-action Speed Racer's Trixie). Rapper and anime fan Kanye West, who used Murakami's art on his Graduation album and videos, performed a small live set. Ricci said her movie's production was influenced by Murakami's Superflat aesthetic. Actress Susan Sarandon (Speed Racer's mother) had previously said that the directors, the Wachowski Brothers, are compositing scenes in artificially flattened layers to emulate the look of the original Speed Racer anime.

Source: Los Angeles Times, Style.com


Vertical to Publish Osamu Tezuka's Black Jack Manga

Publishers Weekly's Comics Week reports that the North American publisher Vertical Inc. will publish the entire run of the Black Jack medical suspense series from manga pioneer Osamu Tezuka. The story revolves around a gifted maverick doctor who treats patients at the edge of society without regard for rules. Tezuka himself was a medical student before he decided to pursue his passion of manga.

The original manga ran in Akita Shoten's Weekly Shonen Champion magazine in Japan from 1973 to 1979, with occasional one-shot installments up until 1983. Almost all of the installments were eventually collected into various book editions that totaled 22 volumes. The North American manga distributor Viz published several installments in the defunct Manga Vizion magazine and compiled two volumes in the 1990s.

The manga has been been adapted numerous times in animation and live-action formats for television, film, home video, and even Internet distribution. Tezuka's frequent collaborator Osamu Dezaki directed ten animated video volumes between 1993 and 2000, which were later distributed in North America by US Manga Corps. Dezaki also directed a 1996 movie which Manga Entertainment distributed in North America.

A 2003 Black Jack animated television special mini-series spawned a series of 11 Flash-animated shorts that was one of the first anime to premiere exclusively online. (The net series also featured pop star Hikaru Utada as the doctor's young companion Pinoko.) Those videos in turn spawned the first Black Jack animated television series, which ran from 2004 to 2006, as well as yet another animated movie in 2005. The Black Jack 21 television sequel followed in 2006.

Four different live-action actors played the doctor in a 1977 live-action film, a 1981 serialized drama, a 1996 video series, and three 2000 drama specials. Akita Shoten itself revived the manga after Tezuka's passing with five different manga serializations, including three volumes by Kenji Yamamoto in 2006.

Source: Anime Newsnetwork

Le Chevalier Author, Production I.G Start Sci-Fi Manga

The Winter 2007 issue (on sale November 14) of Kadokawa's Shonen Ace Assault magazine will debut Eulenspiegel, Shuji Sogabe's manga adaptation of a light novel from Tow Ubukata (Le Chevalier d'Eon, Sōkyū no Fafner) about three cyborg girls in a police unit in 2016. The January 2008 issue (on sale November 30) of Mag Garden's Comic Blade will launch Tokumu Kikōtai Kuchikura (Special Operations Armored Unit Kuchikura), a "near-future military simulation drama" from Production I.G and scriptwriter Yoshiki Sakurai (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Evangelion movie remakes). The manga covers the battle for survival in a 21st-century Tokyo leveled by warfare.

Source: Moon Phase

Anime News

Biohazard (Resident Evil) CG Anime Film Announced

CAPCOM and Sony Pictures Entertainment of Japan have announced on October 29 a joint project to produce Biohazard: Degeneration, a fully computer-animated film in the Biohazard horror franchise (known as Resident Evil in North America and Europe). Sony Pictures Entertainment of America has already produced live-action films based on the franchise. The computer-animated movie will be an original story. The videogame franchise established the survival horror subgenre of games and have sold 33 million copies worldwide. Each of the three live-action films have earned over 100 million dollars in their worldwide box office receipts.

Source: Moon Phase

Bandai Entertainment Acquires Lucky Star

A teaser trailer included on the fourth Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya DVD reveals that the Lucky Star anime television series will be distributed in America by Bandai Entertainment.

Source: Anime on DVD

True Tears Website Opened

The official Japanese homepage for the True Tears anime television series is now online. The adaptation of the PC simulation game developed by Lacryma is scheduled to premier next year.

Source: Moon Phase

Yen Press Acquires Yaoi Manga

Yen Press has announced its first yaoi titles, all by Lily Hoshino. Three volumes are planned. Love Quest (Rabu Kue) will release in October 2008; Mr. Flower Bride (Hanayome-kun) in March 2009; and Mr. Flower Groom (Hanamuko-san) in July 2009.

All three titles are licensed from Houbunsha. U.S. retail price will be $12.99 each.

Source: ICv2

Details of School Days Video Announced

The December issue (on sale October 30) of MediaWorks' Dengeki G's magazine will announce details of School Days: Magical Heart Kokoro-chan, the video spinoff from the School Days television anime series. The March 28 video is intended to be a more comedic parallel-world story about a magical girl team. Director Keitaro Motonaga, series script supervisor Makoto Uezu, character designer Junji Goto, and the animation studio TNK will all return for this project. Most of the anime cast will also return, including Daisuke Hirakawa (Makoto), Tae Okajima (Kotonoha), Shiho Kawaragi (Sekai), Keiko Imoto (Setsuna), and Megu Ashiro (Kokoro). Source: Moon Phase

Hiroshi Ōsaka Memorial Exhibit Announced

The Suginami Anime Museum (SAM) has announced that they will hold a memorial exhibit for well-known anime illustrator, artist and BONES co-founder Hiroshi Ōsaka from November 27 until December 9 at the museum. Ōsaka passed away on September 24 after suffering from cancer. He was 44. The exhibit will feature original art from Clockwork Fighters, Mobile Suit Victory Gundam and many of the other anime series that Ōsaka worked on.

Source: animeanime.jp

Manga Publishers Help California Fire Victims

Manga Publishers Help California Fire Victims
Along With the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Animation

The Society for the Preservation of Japanese Animation, the organization behind Anime Expo and manga publishers Tokyopop, Aurora Publishing, Go Comi, Digital Manga Publishing, and Viz Media are aiding victims of the California fires by supplying free manga volumes to Southern California wildfire evacuees currently residing at Fire Relief Shelters/Evacuation Centers.

Driven by hot, dry, powerful Santa Ana winds numerous wildfires raged across Southern California this week, and at their height these raging infernos forced the evacuation of 500,000 people, one of the largest disaster-caused migrations in U.S. history. Over 1,500 homes were destroyed in the blazes that charred over 410,000 acres. All four manga publishers participating in the efforts to aid fire victims are based in California and their efforts were undoubtedly appreciated at the relief centers where sources of entertainment were few and the hours long as evacuees waited until it was safe to return to see if their homes had survived the conflagrations.

Source: ICv2

Anime News

Illumitoon's B'tX, Beet, BoBoBo-Bo DVDs Discontinued (Updated)

The North American anime retailer Right Stuf International has reclassified the DVDs of B'tX Volumes 3-5, Beet the Vandel Buster Volumes 2-5, and BoBoBo-Bo Bo-BoBo Volumes 2-8 as "discontinued" this week. Illumitoona Entertainment had released all three titles, and some of the DVD volumes had been scheduled for later this year and next year. The first three volumes of AM Driver, another Illumitoon title, is still available for purchase. Illumitoon did not respond to requests for comments before this article's posting. Update: AM Driver is now unavailable for purchase from Right Stuf as well.

Source: Anime News Network

Yuri-Manga-Based Film Love My Life to Screen in L.A.

The American Cinematheque film appreciation group and the Outfest gay and lesbian film festival organizers are screening Love My Life, Koji Kawano's Japanese live-action film based on Ebine Yamaji's Yuri Manga of the same name, at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles, California on Sunday, December 2. The 3:00 p.m. showing is part of the weekly Outfest Wednesdays series, which is devoted to gay- and lesbian-themed films. The story revolves around the relationship of two college girls and the complications that arise between the couple and their families. Thanks, Daniel Zelter.

Source: Anime News Network

Wired History of Manga in America Online

The illustrated history of Japanese manga's introduction into America, published in this month's Wired Magazine, is now available from the Wired homepage. The illustrated short was written by American manga scholar Jason Thompson and illustrated by Japanese artist Atsuhisa Okura.

Source: AnimeNation News

New Takashi Murakami Anime Short to Premier in America

The latest animation work from internationally respected artist Takashi Murakami's Kaikai Kiki studio is scheduled to premier on Monday, October 29th at the Los Angeles' Museum of Contemporary Art as part of its "©Murakami" exhibition of Murakami's work. The ten minute long animation short titled "Kaikai & Kiki," is reportedly the first in a series.

Murakami directed a 5 minute long anime film titled "Superflat Monogram" as an advertisement for French fashion label Louis Vuitton in 2003.

Source: Variety

Live Action Anmitsu Hime Drama Announced

The Sankei Sports newspaper has reported that 20 year old actress Inoue Mao will star in a live action TV special adaptation of Shosuke Kurakane's 1949 historical fantasy comedy manga series Anmitsu Hime ("Sugar Princess"). The special will air on the Fuji TV network in January 2008.

In 1986, Fuji TV broadcast a 51 episode anime adaptation of Anmitsu Hime produced by Studio Pierrot.

Source: Ultimatum

New Anime Distributor Announces First Title

California based New Galaxy Anime has formally announced its entry into America's anime distribution business. New Galaxy Anime will specialize in licensing family-friendly titles, especially family friendly shoujo titles, and vintage anime with high nostalgic value. New Galaxy will reportedly "avoid altering original dialogue or editing scenes out in their U.S. releases."

New Galaxy's first announced title, the 1981 Fantastic Adventures of Unico movie, will be released on bilingual North American DVD with a retail price of $24.95. An exact release date for the movie has not been determined.

Source: AnimeNation News

Media Blasters Moving into Online Card Gaming

Media Blasters has announced a partnership with Japan's Dex Entertainment to produce an official English language version of the Alteil online collectable card game. The original Japanese Alteil game is Japan's "number one" online fantasy card game.

Alteil is easy and fun to pick up and play, anytime, anywhere. Alteil has no downloads, no clients and is 100% web-driven, making it playable on any computer with a web browser. Best of all, it's totally free. Simply sign up for an account and you can choose and customize your own free starter set that will allow you to play immediately. While you can buy additional cards to expand your capabilities, it is not required for a complete experience.

The English language version of Alteil is scheduled to debut next spring.

Source: Japanator

Afro Samurai Sequel Confirmed

Afro Samurai creator Takashi Okazaki has confirmed that a second Afro Samurai anime television series, continuing the storyline from the first series, is now in production. The second series will air on the American Spike TV network in early 2008.

Source: International Herald Tribune

New Yatterman Anime Teaser Trailer Available

The official Japanese website for Tatsunoko's upcoming Yatterman anime television series now hosts a streaming teaser trailer. The new anime is scheduled to premier on January 14th.

Source: Anime News Network

Amatsuki Anime Announced

Official confirmation that Shinobu Takayama's historical fantasy manga series Amatsuki will be adapted into an anime television series by Studio Deen has appeared in the form of an Amatsuki anime homepage.

Source: Moon Phase Message Board

Hatenkou Yugi Anime Formally Announced

Although Hatenkou Yugi manga author Endou Minari announced last March that Hatenkou Yugi would be adapted into an anime television series, an official website announcement confirming the anime series is now online.

Source: Moon Phase

TOKYOPOP To Produce Live Action Ikkitousen?

At this week's TIFFCOM film trade show in Tokyo earlier this week TOKYOPOP revealed a proposal for an American produced live action film adaptation of Yuji Shiozaki's Ikkitousen manga series, published in English by TOKYOPOP under the name "Battle Vixens." TOKYOPOP's proposal reportedly involves turning the Chinese history infused contemporary action story into an adolescent comedy set on American college campuses.

TOKYOPOP has previously announced plans to develop live action film versions of Kei Toume's Hitsuji no Uta ("Lament of the Lamb") manga and the TOKYOPOP original "Princess Ai" franchise.

Source: Anime News Network

Blu Manga Price Increase Announced

TOKYOPOP has confirmed that the retail price of yaoi manga published under the "Blu" imprint will increase from a typical $9.99 to $12.99 beginning in January. Reportedly, the increase will make the price of Blu titles comparable to yaoi manga published by other American publishers.

Domestic yaoi manga require slightly higher retail prices to offset their smaller domestic distribution and sales.

Source: ICv2

Live Action Someday's Dreamers Movie in Production

The Yomiuri Sports Hochi newspaper has reported that a live action film adaptation of Norie Yamada and Kumichi Yoshizuki's Maho Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto ~ Someday's Dreamers manga series is currently filming in Japan with 15-year-old model and actress Rio Yamashita starring and Shun Nakahara directing. The film is tentatively scheduled for Japanese release next summer.

Geneon USA released the Someday's Dreamers anime television series on American DVD in 2003. TOKYOPOP released an English translation of the original manga series in 2006.

Source: Anime News Network

Japanese Government Acknowledges International Anime Piracy

The seventh year dialogue of the "Japan-US Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative" was issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan on October 18th. Page 52 of the 53 page document dealing with multiple aspects of international trade between Japan and the United States includes a single paragraph urging the United States to do more to combat the unauthorized distribution of Japanese animation through internet video-sharing websites and peer-to-peer file-sharing networks.

Source: AnimeAnime.jp

Witchblade Sets 2007 Sales Record

According to recently released Nielsen VideoScan data, FUNimation's Witchblade DVD volume 1 has become the best selling anime series debut in America so far this year, based on first week sales. Titles including Afro Samurai and the Dragon Ball Z season boxed sets have sold more first week copies, but are not American debut titles.

Exact sales figures for Witchblade volume 1 have not been released.

Source: ICv2

Sunadokei Live Action Movie Announced

The Sankei Sports Newspaper has reported that Hinako Ashihara's romance manga Sunadokei ("Hourglass") will be adapted into a live action feature film for Japanese theatrical release next April. The 5.7 million copy selling ten volume Sunadokei manga series was adapted into a live action TV drama this past spring.

Source: Tokyograph

Recent Anime News

Code-E Second Series Announced

The official Code-E anime series homepage reports that the series will be getting a second season.

Source: Anime News Network

Tokyo Marble Chocolate Trailers Released

The official homepage for Production IG's upcoming anime OVA "Tokyo Marble Chocolate" now hosts two short, streaming trailers. The OVA is scheduled for Japanese DVD release on December 19th.

Matai Mashou trailer
Zenryoku Shonen trailer

Source: Moon Phase

Aurora Launches Josei Line

Aurora Publishing will launch its "josei" ("female") line of English translated manga targeted at young adult and adult female readers in January. The "LuvLuv" line of translated manga will debut with the publication of Kanae Hazuki's romance manga short story collection "Voices of Love." Mitsuki Oda's romance manga "Real Love," will follow in March. All LuvLuv titles will be age-rated 18+.

Aurora Publishing is the American branch of Japanese publisher Ohzora.

Source: ICv2

Madhouse & Nikkatsu Partner in America

Anime production studio Madhouse and Japan's oldest film production studio, Nikkatsu, have jointly established an American company named Index Holdings. The Index Holdings office will open in Los Angeles in January to concentrate on marketing Madhouse and Nikkatsu properties internationally and develop original films with Hollywood companies.

Source: Variety

Anime DVD Sales in Japan Up

The latest half-year report from the Japan Video Software Association reveals that mainstream anime DVD sales in Japan during the first half of 2007 have increased by 15% from 2006 sales. First half 2007 mainstream anime DVD sales in Japan totaled 28.5 billion yen ($246 million USD).

Total sales of Japanese and foreign animation released on Japanese DVD during the first half of 2007 have increased by one million dollars since 2006.

Anime DVDs account for an estimated 29.4% of all Japanese home video sales and rental revenue generated during the first half of 2007.

Source: Anime News Network

First Look at New .Hack Anime

Japanese portal site Goo now hosts the first released screenshots from the upcoming .hack//G.U. TRILOGY full CG OVA. The OVA is scheduled for Japanese released on January 25th.

Source: Ultimatum

Dark Horse Talks Blade of the Immortal

ICv2 now hosts an interview with Dark Horse Comics editor Philip Simon regarding the transition of publishing Hiroaki Samura's Blade of the Immortal manga in monthly comic book form to graphic novel form.

Official English Translation of Manga Zombie Online

ComiPress has begun to host a serialized authorized English translation of manga scholar Udagawa Takeo's 1997 book "Manga Zombie." The book focuses on bringing attention to the work of 31 select "outsider" manga artists that were active primarily in the 1960s and 70s. Udagawa's book asserts that these 31 artists, "represent the most authentic and exciting work being done in the medium before market forces... squeezed the artists' freedom of expression to an absolute minimum in the late seventies."

Source: Anime News Network

New Look at Live Action Blood Movie

French movie news website Films Actu has secured the first production still from the currently filming live action Blood: The Last Vampire movie. The still features Korean actress Jeon Ji-Hyun as Saya.

Source: Twitch

Masamune Shirow Talks About Ghost Hound

As the Ghost Hound "spiritual animation" series, Production I.G's 20th-anniversary project, premiered on Japanese television earlier this week, creator Masamune Shirow has written a message to fans that has been translated and posted on I.G's website. He acknowledges that the anime series differs in some aspects from his original story but accepts these differences as inevitable. The original idea, which he created in 1987, deals with "recognizing and unlocking unworldly power." In the anime, this has been changed to the theme of losing the unworldly power as children are transformed into teenagers and adults.

Source: Anime News Network

Free Magazine for Japanese Cosplay Events Launched

CosPick" to feature nationwide cosplay event listings

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Following the debut of Japan's first free manga magazine earlier this year, Japan's first free magazine for cosplayers and costuming enthusiasts has arrived. However, the magazine isn't just another magazine for cosplayers; it's also a guide that many fans have been asking for.

"CosPick", which was launched on August 17 and will be released on a bi-monthly basis, functions mainly as a guide to cosplay-themed events across Japan. Although online guides already exist to promote manga events and doujinshi markets (such as Studio You), a guide to events for Japanese cosplayers has essentially not existed. The magazine, along with its website, were created by the media company Cross Bridge, which also runs the online Akihabara information program Akiba TV.The next issue of the magazine is scheduled for release on September 28.

Traditionally, cosplay events in Japan are organized by local fans. As a consequence, cosplayers in Japan usually learn about events and gatherings through e-mails, blogs and word of mouth. The listings in "CosPick" include events across Japan, along with advertisements for hotels and restuarants in the areas surrounding each event so that cosplayers can find accomodations ahead of time. The idea has been successful so far; the magazine managed to distribute about 6500 magazines at Comic Market 72 in Tokyo last month.

Source: IT Media

News for 9-19-07

Tsubasa Tokyo Revelations Trailer Online

The official homepage for the upcoming Tsubasa: Tokyo Revelations OVA series now hosts a downloadable 15 second long trailer. The first of three OVAs is scheduled for Japanese release as a premium with the limited edition Tsubasa -Reservoir Chronicle- volume 21 manga that goes on sale in Japan on November 16th.

Broadcast of School Days Final Episode Canceled

The Mainichi Daily News reports that during the pre-dawn hours of Tuesday, September 18th, a 45 year old police sergeant employed by the Minami Police Depeartment in Kyoto, Japan, was murdered by his 16 year old daughter, who attacked him with an axe. In response to the shocking crime, the TV Kanagawa, Chiba TV, and Aichi TV networks canceled their broadcasts of the final episode of the School Days anime television series because the episode depicted a high school age girl committing an act of bloody violence.

The episode had already been partially censored before its planned TV broadcast. Animation studio TNK apparently made the blood depicted in the episode black instead of bright red; however, for reasons of tact, the censoring was not deemed sufficient. Reportedly satellite TV network AT-X, which airs anime with age appropriate advisory messages, has not yet decided if it will broadcast the episode.

Source: Mainichi Daily News

CMX Announces New Titles

CMX has revealed its acquisition of translation and distribution rights to Yu Yagami's four volume "Go West," and three volume "Dokkoida?!" comedy manga series. The first volume of Dokkoida will be released next February. The first volume of Go West will debut in November 2008.

CMX has also announced plans to distribute American editions of Daisuke Torii's "Zombie Fairy" manga, and Arashi Shindo's "Leader's High!" manga. Both titles are published in Japan by DC Comics' partner company Flex Comics.

Source: Publisher's Weekly

Viz Pictures Acquires Live Action Death Note Films

Viz Pictures has formally announced its acquisition of North American distribution rights to the two live action Death Note motion pictures, based on the successful manga by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata. Death Note and Death Note: The Last Name will premier at the Austin, Texas Fantastic Fest film festival held from September 20-27, and at the 2007 Vancouver Asian Film Festival, November 1-4. Limited theatrical screenings will continue throughout 2008 with a DVD release of both films coming next summer.

Tokyo University to Teach Anime

Japan's Yahoo News has reported that the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, regarded as one of Japan's finest schools for the arts, is developing a curriculum specializing in anime production and research.

While other Japanese universities including the Kyoto Seika University offer courses in manga and anime study and production, and the Bunkyo Gakuin University, Hongo Campus currently offers public seminars on anime history and production, this new curriculum at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music will be Japan's first university to offer a major in the study of anime.

Source: Canned Dogs

News for the Day 9-17-07

New CG Anime Announced

The official Japanese homepage for the upcoming Hoshi no Umi no Amuri ~ Amuri in Star Ocean full CG anime sci-fi/action/adventure OVA series is now online. The website's "intro" and "story" sections feature streaming footage from the anime.

The 30 minute long first episode is scheduled for Japanese DVD release on November 13th. The second episode will be released on February 22, 2008, and the third episode on June 27, 2008.

Source: Moon Phase

Kite Liberator Trailer Released

The official Kite Liberator homepage now hosts a streaming trailer for the upcoming OVA. Please note that the trailer contains graphic violence. The Kite Liberator teaser footage appears in the final quarter of the trailer.

Source: Moon Phase

Monochrome Factor Anime Announced

Comic Blade Avarus Magazine has formally announced that Sorano Kairi's supernatural fantasy manga series Monochrome Factor will be adapted into an anime. No further details are available yet.

Source: Moon Phase

HaruToki 3 Special Announced

An official announcement that a Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3: Kurenai no Tsuki TV special will air on the Japanese Kids Station television network in December has appeared online.

Source: Moon Phase

Yattokame Tanteidan Anime Scheduled

Although first announced over a year ago, the anime television series adaptation of Shimizu Yoshinori's "Yattokame Tanteidan" (At Last! Turtle Detective Agency) mystery novel series will premier as a two-season long anime television series airing at 7 AM on Sunday mornings on Nogoya area television stations beginning October 7th.

Source: Sanyutei Enjou Rakugo no Sekai

Gonzo Does Robo Rock

The official Japanese homepage for the upcoming live action adventure comedy movie Robo Rock now hosts a streaming trailer. (Click on the flying robot to access the trailer.) The movie features a full CG giant robot animated by Japanese anime production studio Gonzo. The movie is scheduled to open in Japanese theaters in November.

Source: Twitch

Rental Magica Trailer Online

The official Japanese homepage for the upcoming Rental Magica anime television series now hosts a streaming 90 second long trailer. The anime is scheduled to premier next month.

Source: Moon Phase

Sensei no Chonmage Anime Announced

The current issue of Japan's Comic Ran Twins Magazine has formally announced that the "Sengoku Gakudou Nikki: Sensei no Chonmage" (Diary of a Student During the Warring States Era: Teacher's Top-knot) historical comedy manga will be adapted into a television anime. The animation will premier on October 6th as a series of shorts included within the ongoing Konna Gakkou Aienai!! Fightension School anime variety program.

Source: Ultimatum

New Anime Series Websites Opened

Japanese television network MBS has opened its official homepage for the Shakugan no Shana Second television series, which is scheduled to premier on October 4th.

Broadcaster TV Tokyo has opened its official homepage for the upcoming Maple Story anime television series, based on the popular Korean online game. The TV series is scheduled to premier on October 7th.

New Hoihoi-san Anime Announced?

An unverified, anonymous post on the Japanese Moon Phase message board claims that the first issue of Dengeki Kuro Maoh Magazine will include an announcement that an Ichigeki Sacchu!! Hoihoi-san anime television series will premier on the TV Tokyo network in January.

Ichigeki Sacchu!! Hoihoi-san debuted in November 2003 as a Playstation 2 action game developed by Konami. It was shortly later adapted into a manga by Kunihiko Tanaka. The 2004 release of the limited edition Hoihoi-san manga tankouban included a short bonus anime OVA.

Update, September 17, 2007
The Moon Phase message board has revised its initial post, now denying the rumors of a Hoihoi-san anime TV series.

New .hack//G.U. Trilogy OVA Set for January 25 Release

CyberConnect2 studio has announced a new 85-minute .hack//G.U. Trilogy OVA, based on the three popular .hack//G.U. role-playing games, that Bandai Namco Games and Bandai Visual will release on January 25 on Blu-ray Disc and DVD in Japan. This first high-definition .hack release will include 10 minutes of bonus features. The story is set within The World R:2 fictional net game in the year 2017 and follows the in-game characters of Haseo, Atoli, and Ovan. A promotional movie for the OVA will be premiere at next week's Tokyo Game Show 2007.

Source: Saishin Anime Jōhō

Haruhi Game Showcased with Interactive 3D Web Haruhi

Update: To promote The Promise of Haruhi Suzumiya PSP adventure game with its exclusive "Motion Portrait" CG modeling of the characters and "Seamless Operation System" for gameplay, Bandai Namco Games has posted an interactive 3D sample of Haruhi's head. The 3D-modeled, cel-shaded head and chest of Haruhi responds with uncanny facial expressions to mouse movement.

Source: Kotaku

News for the Day 9-13-07

Night Wizard Trailer Released

The official homepage for the upcoming Night Wizard anime television series now hosts a streaming trailer in low and high Windows media and low and high Real Media formats. The series is scheduled to premier on October 2nd.

Source: Moon Phase

Kodomo no Jikan OVA Online

The official Kodomo no Jikan television series homepage now hosts a streaming version of the upcoming television series' home video exclusive OVA episode. The DVD version of the episode will be included as a bonus feature with the limited edition release of the fourth Kodomo no Jikan manga volume. The 30 minute long episode is available for viewing in 500k and 1mb resolutions. The Kodomo no Jikan television series is scheduled to premier on October 11th.

Source: Moon Phase

New Nasu Trailer Online

The official Nasu: Suitcase no Wataridori OVA homepage now hosts a new streaming trailer for the October 24th DVD release.

Source: Moon Phase

New Kara no Kyoukai Trailer Released

The official Kara no Kyoukai movie homepage now hosts a streaming version of the Comic Market 72 trailer. The movie is scheduled to open in Japanese theaters in December.

Source: Canned Dogs

New Anime Films Announced

Weekly Young Sunday Magazine has announced that Takeshi Natsuhara & Kuromaru's crime/suspense manga series Kurosagi, and Motaro Mase's dramatic manga series Ikigami will both be developed into feature films for Japanese release next year. The announcements do not clarify if the films will be animated or live action.

Source: Anime News Network

Genshiken 2 Anime Television Series Promo Video Posted

The official Japanese website for Genshiken college otaku comedy franchise has posted a promotional video for the Genshiken 2 sequel television series. The Monday update also includes broadcast updates, new character designs, cast quotes from the recording sessions, and information on the opening and ending theme CD singles. The series premieres on October 9 in Japan.

Source: Moon Phase

2nd Eva Film Remake to Add Redesigned EVAs, New Girl

First Movie played to standing-room-only audiences all day in Tokyo theaters

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The first of the four Evangelion movie remakes, Evangelion: 1.0 You Are [Not] Alone, opened Saturday, and it featured a "next episode preview" for the 2008 sequel with more redesigned EVA units and a previously unanimated female character. Specifically, the first EVA units will have a new backpack attachment for an aerial drop sequence (analogous to the scene in episode 9 of the series), the EVA-04 unit is hinted to appear for the first time in animation, a new mono-eyed EVA-05 design will appear, and the EVA-06 will feature a completely new design as well. The new character is an eyeglasses-wearing, brunette girl. The preview's narrator, Kotono Mitsuishi as the character Misato Katsuragi, promised more fan "service-service" in the second movie. (Evangelion: 1.0 had partial nudity.)

Source: Anime News Network

Anime News!!

Hakaba Kitaro Anime Announced

Toei has announced plans to adapt Shigeru Mizuki's original version of GeGeGe no Kitaro, Hakaba Kitaro, as an anime TV series.
Source: Anime News Network

Aria Third TV Series Announced

According to the October issue of Comic Blade magazine a third Aria TV series is currently in production. No broadcast date has been determined.
Source: Anime News Network

New Anime Series Official Websites Open

New sites have just launched for the TV shows Kodomo no Jikan, Shion no Oh and Mokke.
Source: Moonphase


New Evangelion Movie Trailer Available

A second trailer for the upcoming "Shin Gekijoban Evangelion: Jou ~ Evangelion:1.0 You Are (Not) Alone" motion picture has appeared online. The trailer from official Japanese sources is limited to Japanese IP addresses only. A low quality version has appeared on Youtube. A higher quality DivX version is available from Stage6. The first of the four new Evangelion movies is scheduled to open theatrically in Japan on September 1st.
Source: Twitch

Fictional Game Within Genshiken World Gets Own Manga

Ramen Tenshi Pretty Menma (Ramen Angel Pretty Menma), the fictional game played by the otaku characters within the Genshiken manga world, will itself be adapted as manga. Media Factory's Monthly Comic Alive magazine will start serializing Norio Shiroi's manga adaption of Shimoku Kio's fiction-within-fiction creation in its November issue (on sale September 27). The official website for Pretty Menma made the announcement on August 27, two weeks after the website opened. The second series of the Genshiken anime will premiere on October 12 in Japan.

Source: Moon Phase

Sketchbook ~full color'S~ Trailer Online

The official homepage for the Sketchbook ~full color'S~ anime television series now hosts a streaming trailer. The show is scheduled to premier on October 1st.

Source: Ultimatum

Aquarion, Miyori no Mori, Sketchbook Videos Posted

The official website for the theatrical version of Aquarion is hosting the television commercials and trailer in its "Movie" section. The combining-robot project opens on September 22 in Japan. Sketchbook ~full color'S~, the anime adaptation of the Sketchbook school manga, has posted a promotional video online. It starts airing on Monday nights (Tuesday mornings) on October 1. Finally, the television movie Miyori no Mori has additional footage posted online before its August 25 premiere.

Source: Moonphase

Gunslinger Girl's Second Season Officially Announced

The October issue (on sale August 21) of Monthly Comic Dengeki Daioh officially announced that a second season of the Gunslinger Girl anime series will be produced. The Japanese magazine runs Yu Aida's original manga that inspired the anime. The production company Marvelous Entertainment had revealed that a sequel was in the works in its 2006-2007 financial report on May 30, but the company then edited the report to remove the Gunslinger Girl reference in early June.

Source: Ultimatum

Manga Duo naked ape's switch Heads to Stage, OVA

The September issue (on sale August 18) of Square Enix's Monthly G Fantasy manga magazine announced that the Switch detective manga by the artist duo naked ape will be adapted for the theatrical stage and OVA formats. The October issue will continue with more announcements. The grittily stylized manga focuses on two young governmental investigators of drug trafficking in Japan. Viz Media announced at Comic-Con International 2007 that it will start releasing the manga version next March.

Source: Ultimatum

550,000 Attend Japan's Comic Market Summer 2007

Mainchi Newspaper's Mantan website reports that Comic Market, the largest manga-related convention, hosted 550,000 attendees during its 72nd run this past August 19–21. About 200,000 attendees came on Sunday to the doujinshi markerplace, adding to the daily totals of 180,000 on Saturday and 170,000 on Friday.

Source: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com

Anime News August 20th, 2008

New Aquarion Movie Trailers Online

The "Movie" section of the Aquarion motion picture homepage now hosts a new streaming trailer and two TV spots. The movie is scheduled to open in Japanese theaters on September 22nd.

Source: Moon Phase

Kafka Inaka Isha Trailer Online

Shochiku Films now hosts a streaming Flash trailer for Academy Award nominated animator Koji Yamamura's latest short film "Kafka Inaka Isha" (Franz Kafka's A Country Doctor).

Source: Anime News Network

Switch OVA Announced

Details on New Macross Anime Revealed

At this past weekend's Macross 25th Anniversary Live: Minmay meets Fire Bomber concert held in Tokyo, Macross co-creator Shoji Kawamori announced that the new Macross anime TV series will tentatively be titled "Macross F" ("Macross Frontier"), and series female lead Ranka Lee will be played by 18 year-old debut voice actress and singer Megumi Nakajima.Macross F will be directed by Yasuhito Kikuchi (Aquarion), with character designs provided by Mikan Ehime (Gravion Zwei) and Yuichi Takahashi (Aquarion). Yoko Kanno will compose the musical score for the new series.

Source: Anime News Network & Moon Phase

Keitai Shoujo Drama Announced

The Keitai Shoujo homepage has announced that the cel phone game and anime series Keitai Shoujo ("Cel Phone Girl") will debut as a live action television drama on October 23rd.

Source: Ultimatum

Live Action Hana Yori Dango Movie Announced

Japanese television network TBS has announced development of "Hana Yori Dango Final," a live action feature film conclusion to the live action TV drama adaptation of Youko Kamio's popular manga. The cast from the two successful television series will reprise their roles in the movie, which is due out in Japanese theaters next summer.

Source: Sankei Sports

Live Action Fuma no Kojiro Website Opened

The official homepage for the upcoming live action Fuma no Kojiro television series adaptation of Masami Kurumada's manga is now online.

Source: http://www.animenation.com/

Yoko Kanno, Heroine's Voice Announced for New Macross

18-year-old newcomer Megumi Nakajima stars in tentatively titled Macross Frontier

At the Macross 25th Anniversary Live: Minmay meets Fire Bomber concert in Tokyo Saturday night, co-creator Shoji Kawamori (Escaflowne, Aquarion) and voice actor Sho Hayami (Max of the first Macross series) announced that Yoko Kanno (Cowboy Bebop, Escaflowne, Macross Plus) will co-compose the music for the new Macross television series and that the heroine Ranka Lee will be played by Megumi Nakajima, an 18-year-old newcomer selected by a nationwide singing and acting audition in Japan.
Kawamori and Hayami also introduced a pilot film of the new Macross work, now tentatively titled Macross Frontier. The story in production takes place in "20XX A.D." on a galactic colonization fleet named Macross Frontier. Since music for the new Macross series is still being composed, Nakajima sang Kanno's "Voices" from Macross Plus in the concert. Mari Iijima (Lynn Minmay), Yoshiki Fukuyama (Macross 7's Basara's singing voice), Chie Kajiura (Macros 7's Mylene's singing voice), and Nobutoshi Hayashi (Basara's speaking voice) performed first solo and then together for the final songs. More details will be posted in the upcoming event report.

Source: Anime News Network

Ayakashi Anime Announced

Japanese PC game publisher Cross-Net has formally announced that the 2005 adults-only superhuman battle action visual novel game Ayakashi will be adapted into an anime television series. Please note that the Cross-Net Ayakashi site contains imagery suitable for adult viewers only. Cross-Net hosts a downloadable version of the fully animated opening animation for the 2005 Ayakashi PC game.

The official Ayakashi anime homepage features a downloadable trailer for the upcoming show.

Source: Rakuga Kidou & Moon Phase

Koyuki Joins Cast of Upcoming Blood Movie

Japanese actress Koyuki, known for her roles in the live-action TV drama series Ikebukuro West Gate Park and Kimi wa Pet, as well as in The Last Samurai (alongside Tom Cruise), is joining the cast of the upcoming live-action Blood: The Last Vampire feature film. She will play a new character who was not in the original anime the movie is based on, and will at one point fight the hero of the story, Saya. Blood: The Last Vampire is being produced in Hong Kong, entirely in English, with Chris Nahon as the director. The role of Saya is played by Korean actress Ji-hyun Jun (credited as Gianna Jun), and the film will open internationally next year.

Source: Tokyograph

Third Kiddy Grade Movie's Trailer Posted Online

The official Japanese Kiddy Grade website has posted the trailer (100K or 500K bandwidth) for Kiddy Grady -Truth Dawn-, the last in the three-part movie compilation of the science fiction television series. The movie will screen in a one-theater, late-night engagement in Tokyo September 1-14.

Source: Moon Phase