AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Highly thought of fan run video game news and review site The Gaming Intellegence Agency has published a report on their diminishing financial resources. Due to massive computer failures, the site is currently virtually out of commission, and the staff reports that, “As it stands now, the site is completely broke. We have enough money to last through September; after that, it’s lights out.”

Visit the GIA page to read their full report of the situation and offer any monetary contributions you’d like to donate to the resurrection of the of the internet’s most respected sources of video game news and information.

4Kids Productions has opened the official American homepage for Yu-Gi-Oh. The site includes television show info, downloadables, a section based on the author of the show and a news and events section. Yu-Gi-Oh! premieres September 15th on Kids’ WB!

The fifth annual Sakura Con will be held on April 26-28, 2002 at the Seattle Airport Hilton Hotel & Conference Center in Seatac, Washington. The first guest of honor announced for the convention is Creator/Director, Hiroki Hayashi, whose credits include Bubblegum Crisis OAV 4, Gall Force 2, and Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040. Mr. Hayashi is also recognized as the creator and director of the original Sol Bianca OAVs, El Hazard, and co-creator of Tenchi Muyo.

AD Vision has confirmed that Satoru Akihori’s 2 episode fantasy/adventure/comedy Chivas 1-2-3 will debut in the US by the end of the year under the title “Sorcerer on the Rocks.” The original Japanese title cannot be retained for legal reasons related to the alcohol brand name “Chivas.”

Janice Williams of ADV Films has announced that Shivas Scotch will be played by Jay Hickman; Gin Fizz - Monica Rial; Kiss - Hilary Haag; Genmi - Brett Weaver; Meru & Teru - Kira; Million Dollar - Emily Carter.

Source: Anime on DVD

Figures.com has published a glowing review of the upcoming domestic release of the Japanese Guts: Hawk Soldier figure based on the manga and anime series Berserk.

The Writers Guild of America, west (WGAw), has filed its third lawsuit against Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Inc. within the past two months, charging that the Nickelodeon company is using unfair tactics and illegally reducing benefits due to writers that are attempting to organize a labor union. Visit Animation World Network to read the full story.

Lupin the Third Street has posted thirty screenshots from the 13th Lupin III television movie, The Alcatraz Connection, which aired on NTV on August 3rd.

Source: Anime News Service

Konami has revealed that the Tokimeki Memorial 3 anime dating simulation game will debut on the Playstation 2 in Japan on December 20th. Similar to the technology used in the Dreamcast Blue Submarine No. 6 game, “TokiMemo 3″ will utilize “the toon-rendering technology” to animate cel-shaded 3D polygon characters to provide a “realistic” 3D look to the traditional 2D style life/dating sim game genre, giving the characters much more complex animation and movements, such as lips movements. The game will also feature voice acting, complete with some regional dialect accents, and a theme song by popular J-pop vocalist Zard.

Source: The Magic Box

Cinescape has confirmed with Sega that the American Dreamcast release of Shenmue II does not have a firm release date, but is tentatively scheduled to debut in America this fall. Cinescape also discovered that unlike the American version of the first game, the American version of Shenmue II will be subtitled in English only, with no English language dubbed audio option.

Question:
I know that Yasuomi Umetsu’s next work is Mezzo Forte. I have no idea what it’s about, and I would just like some background information on it. It looks pretty cool, but I have no idea what it’s about or anything like that.

(more…)

Although the actual awards ceremony for the 6th Annual Kobe Animation Awards won’t be held until next month, the recipients have already been announced to the public.

The prizes are awarded to exceptional achievement in the Japanese animation industry between September 2000 and August 2001, focused on animation works and the individuals involved in those productions.

This year’s lucky winners are:

Individual Award: Hiroyuki Kitakubo (director of “Blood”)

Best Theatrical Feature: Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (”Spirited Away”)

Best TV Series: Kidou Tenshi Angelic Layer

Best Computer Game Project: Grand Turismo 3

Best Computer Game Networked Project: Phantasy Star Online

Best Audio Recording: W-Infinity (CD single by Hironobu Kageyama and Hitomi Mieno; Mieno performed the opening song of I My Me! Strawberry Egg, “Dearest”)

Special Achievement Award: Kunio Okawara (mecha designer for MS Gundam, Gatchaman, Daiturn III, etc.)

Source: Production I.G.

Veteran anime voice actor Kouichi Matsuo, who went by the name Matsuo Ginzou, passed away on August 25th of an acute interior hemorrhage. His current performances included Oyajide of Oja Majo Doremi, Kagome’s Grandfather in Inu Yasha, and Biff from the Sunrise sci-fi action series Scryd.

Source: Anime News Service

American comic collectables publishing company Dynamic Forces has announced an American license to create and distribute original merchandise including T-shirts, lunchboxes, lithographs and trading cards.

The first announced merchandise will be a series of Gatchaman lithographs painted by comic artist Alex Ross, perhaps best known for his work with DC Comics on titles such as Kingdom Come. Ross will also be one of numerous American comic book artists providing illustrations for a set of Battle of the Planets trading cards.

The first Battle of the Planets lithograph by Ross debuted at WizardWorld Chicago at the Rosemont Convention Center. A six-card Battle of the Planets preview card set is due to ship in November, T-shirts will be available in December, and the premiere trading card series, featuring all-new artwork by Ross and many other artists will go on sale in March of 2002.

Source: Newsarama

In response to the “tremendous positive response to [the first] Anime Invasion” magazine published by Wizard Comics Magazine, Wizard Entertainment has announced that the Wizard Anime Invasion magazine will become a regular quarterly magazine.

The first new issue, Wizard Anime Invasion #1, will ship in November and feature news on top anime properties like Akira, Dragon Ball Z and an update on the eagerly anticipated Ghost In The Shell sequel. The magazine will also have a “Holiday Anime Buyer’s Guide,” a list of the top 25 manga comic books and an interview with artist Go Nagai (Devilman). “Anime Invasion #1 will be shipped with two covers, the first featuring Dragon Ball Z and and the second featuring Gundam robots drawn by artist J. Scott Campbell, best known for his comic book artwork with Danger Girl.”

Source: Silver Bullet Comic Books

The latest announced addition to Toycom’s line of “Super Robots” will be a fully articulated 12″ tall vinyl Shin Getter One based on the Shin Getter Robo OAV series currently being released in America by AD Vision. The figure features multiple points of articulation and will come armed with a towering 15″ axe. Shin Getter One is expected to be released October 1, 2001 and will retail for a MSRP of $34.95.

Source: Figures.com