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