The first teaser trailer for Studio Ghibli’s next film, Karigurashi no Arrietty (The Borrower Arrietty), has appeared, along with the video for Cecile Corbel’s performance of the movie’s theme, “Arrietty’s Song.” The adaptation of Mary Norton’s classic novel The Borrowers is directed by first time feature director Hiromasa Yonebayashi. The movie will hit Japanese theaters on July 17.
Source: Manganimation
Marvelous Entertainment’s website for the upcoming Ichiban Ushiro no Daimao (Number One Behind the Devil King) television series has added a streaming Flash trailer. Note: the trailer includes mild nudity. The adaptation of Shotaro Mizuki’s light novel series stars Akuto Sai, a normal boy attending a magic high school who aptitude test predicts him most likely to become a future devil king. The show is scheduled to premiere in April.
The production values look good. Hopefully this will skew closer to the fun BakaTest than the bland RosaVam.
Source: Anime News Network
The fan favorite mecha action anime series Armored Trooper Votoms will reportedly be getting three more OVA series in addition to the upcoming “Gen-ei Hen” (Phantom Arc) video series.
Armored Trooper Votoms Case;Irvine will introduce AT (Armored Trooper) mechanic Irvin Lester to the Votoms universe. Shisho Igarashi will direct with Hirokazu Hisayuki (My Hime) providing character designs and Takuya Sato (Fate/stay night) composing the script.
Votoms Finder will star Aki Tesuno, a pilot of an “altro” mecha who serves as a guard for scrap sclvagers. Votoms: Pailsen Files director Atsushi Shigeta will direct the Votoms Finder animation. Junichi Hayama (Hokuto no Ken: Toki-den) will provide character designs while Mayori Sekijima (Jyushin Enbu) will provide the scripts.
Votoms series creator Ryousuke Takahashi will personally direct the Armored Trooper Votoms: Alone Again (Soko Kihei Votoms: Koei Futatabi) OVA series with script writer Fuyunori Gobu, character designer Norio Shioyama, and mecha designer Kunio Okawara all returning in their respective staff roles from the original 1983 television series. The “Alone Again” series will reunite original Votoms protagonist Chirico Cuvie with his old friend Gotho and other characters 32 years later.
The first episode of the six episode Armored Trooper Votoms: Ginei Hen OVA series, described as the final story in the Votoms saga, will hit Japanese home video on March 26.
Source: Anime News Network
The official website for the Isshoni Sleeping ~ Sleeping With Hinako OVA is now online. The sequel to the April 2009 Isshoni Training OVA will allow viewers to watch Japanese teen girl magically turned anime character Hinako prepare for bed, sleep, and wake up. The OVA will hit DVD and Blu-ray this Thursday.
Spanish language fan site celuloidemutante has compiled a selection of promotional images (more here) for director Shinsuke Sato’s currently filming live action pair of movies based on Hiroya Oku’s sci-fi action manga Gantz. Please note, the images contain mild nudity.
The Oriental Daily News Chinese language newspaper reports that Hong Kong based animation studio IMAGI has laid off nearly all of its remaining staff. Around 100 of the company’s 400+ employees were laid off on December 11, 2009. The company has now laid off an additional 300+ employees, leaving the company open with a skeleton staff while its seeks new investors. Reportedly Imagi will re-hire its laid-off employees if new operating capital is secured. The company did that in January 2009. However, Imagi is also considering liquidation should new investments not materialize soon.
Imagi most recently spent $60 million USD on the production of the 2009 Astro Boy animated movie that earned $23 million USD globally. The studio’s next feature will tentatively be an adaptation of Tatsunoko’s Science Ninja Team Gatchaman anime franchise.
Source: Anime News Network
Kitsune Robot, one of the world’s first anime cover bands, will perform at this year’s Phoenix Comicon, scheduled for May 27-30 at the Phoenix Convention Center and Hyatt Regency in Phoenix, Arizona. Formed in 2006, Kitsune Robot is devoted to playing covers of the most popular anime, video game, J-pop, and J-rock songs.
Question:
Why did Claymore have an ending that didn’t solve anything? Claire didn’t get revenge and none of the creatures of the abyss were killed. Will they make a real ending to it?
I know, we’re an anime blog, but I love pics of Japan, Tokyo especially, so when I come across some nice ones I like to share them with everyone. With much of the US in the icy grip of winter, don’t you wish you could be biking this right now?
The official homepage for the xxxHOLiC and Tsubasa OAD series is now streaming a trailer for the upcoming xxxHOLiC Rou anime episode. The xxxHOLiC Rou OAD will be packaged in limited edition copies of CLAMP’s xxxHOLiC manga volume 17 that goes on sale April 23.
Source: Anime News Network
The homepage for this spring’s Working!! anime television series has released its latest 30 second character introduction trailer, this one featuring 17 year old waitress Mahiru Inami.
I do hope this show lives up to all of the promotion it’s getting. It does look like it’ll be fun.
Source: Anime News Network
The LA Angeles Weekly newspaper reports that Adult Swim will begin broadcasting an English dub of the current Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood television series at midnight EST/PST on February 14. Most of the English dub cast from the first Fullmetal Alchemist series will reprise their roles for the second series. Maxey Whitehead will now portray Alphonse Elric in place of earlier actor Aaron Dismuke. And J. Michael Tatum, who played Scar in the dub of the Fullmetal Alchemist: Premium Collection OVAs will return.
A subtitled version of the series has been simulcast online by FUNimation since its Japanese premiere last April.
Source: Anime News Network
Appleseed: Ex Machina producer Joseph Chou, during his audio interview with Anime News Network, confirmed that there will be future Appleseed anime movies. Specifically, when asked if there will be more Appleseed movies, Chou replied, “Yes.”
Development of the most recently announced Appleseed anime project, the Appleseed: Genesis television series, was canceled in September 2008 when Appleseed movies producer Micott & Basara reportedly ordered production stopped without explanation.
Article provided by Daniel Zelter
The homepage for Masahiro Itosugi’s risqué incestual romance manga series Aki Sora has announced the development of an anime OVA adaptation. Animation studio Hoods Entertainment produced the Aki Sora OAD released last December. The studio and primary staff of the OAD will reteam for the upcoming OVA.
I liked Koikaze, and I’ve watched all of the Kiss x Sis anime so far, but I just couldn’t get into this one, for some reason.
Source: Anime News Network
Kadokawa Shoten’s Monthly Newtype Magazine has announced that a preview of the Hana no Utame Gothicmade anime project will debut during the “All Night Newtype Show!” publicity event. The event will be held in Tokyo on March 20th to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Newtype Magazine. Five Star Stories creator Mamoru Nagano’s Gothicmade project premiered in April 2006 with rumors that it would generate an anime. While Nagano has previously worked on anime projects including Heavy Metal L-Gaim and Brain Powerd, Gothicmade will be his directorial debut.
Source: Anime News Network
