According to Screen Daily, Takeshi “Beat” Kitano will star in and direct a new Zatoichi feature film. The role of blind masseur and master swordsman was made famous by the late Shintaro Katsu, who played the role in a popular TV series and 26 motion pictures. Actor/director Takeshi Kitano has earned worldwide acclaim over the past decade as one of contemporary cinema’s master film makers.
Source: Ain’t it Cool News
Warren Zide and Craig Perry, the producers of Final Destination and American Pie, have acquired the rights to produce a live action film adaptation of Nintendo’s popular Metroid video game franchise.
Source: Jagged Team
Question:
I have a question regarding the Hellsing anime series. I was waiting a long time for the fourth volume and I can not tell you how disappointed I was when I watched it. What happened to the animation? The quality turned to nothing at all. Also, if there ever was a cop out, confusing ending to a series, this is it. If you could, give me your interpretation of the last volume and let me know if you know why the anime ended the way it did. Did the manga end in Japan, or is it going to continue? If it did end, then was the ending similar?
According to GameSpot, Tampa, Florida based Infinium Labs has announced development of its own console video game system, to be released by this November. The Phantom will reportedly be an “always on broadband device” more powerful than any of the current console video game systems apparently compatible with both existing cross platform console software titles and PC games. Infinium Labs has stated that it hopes to unveil the Phantom console sometime in March.
AD Vision has apparently revealed release dates and prices on several new DVD announcements.
The Dirty Pair Flash Collection containing all 16 OAVs will retail for $39.98 beginning on April 15th.
Orphen: The Collection will include all 24 TV episodes and retail for $89.98 beginning on April 22nd.
Casshan: Robot Hunter volume 1 of 2, a rerelease of the OAV series previously released in America by Streamline Pictures, will debut on May 13th at $24.98.
Mazinkaiser volume 1 will retail for $29.98 when it is released on May 13th.
Suikoden Demon Century OAV 1 will premier on DVD at a retail price of $19.98 on June 24th.
Source: Anime on DVD
Pioneer has opened its official American homepage devoted to the upcoming DVD release of Master Keaton.
Source: Anime News Network
Bandai has issued a press release re-confirming previously announced information regarding the upcoming DVD release of .hack//SIGN, as well as the first image of the entire contents of the limited edition DVD volume 1 set.
Source: Anime on DVD
Bandai has released the first screenshots of the next One Piece game for the Japanese GameBoy Advance. One Piece: Mezase! King of Berry will be an RPG available in Japan this spring.
Source: The Magic Box
Question:
How successful was the Saber Marionette series in Japan, and what’s your opinion of the stories SMJ, J Again, and J to X?
The Broadcast Film Critics Association officially chose Spirited Away as the best animated film of 2002 during the official Critics’ Choice Award ceremony held this past Saturday. The film won over other nominees Lilo & Stitch, Ice Age and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.
Source: Anime News Network
Pioneer has opened its official American homepage devoted to the upcoming English language release of Automatic Maiden Mahoromatic.
Source: Anime News Network
On February 25, 2002, the Tokyo District Court ruled that Studio Nue/Big West was the legal copyright owner of the Superdimensional Fortress Macross character and mecha designs. As a result of the latest round of court decisions, the Tokyo District Court yesterday ruled that Tatsunoko Productions owns the property rights to the Macross TV series because it was Tatsunoko Productions that actually produced the Macross animation. Anime News Network has published an overview of the ruling, discussing its ramifications and predicting a minimal effect on the American market.
Source: Anime News Network
Question:
I have been interested in some of the older anime series from the 60’s and 70’s that have been released on DVD recently. I would buy the series but they are only dubbed, and I only buy subtitled anime. I was wondering why do the older classic anime like Kimba the White Lion, Mobile Suit Gundam, and Transformers, to name a few, only come out dubbed?
Although official word from Bandai Entertainment’s Jerry Chu is “No comment,” signs suggest that the next Gundam series to be broadcast on the Cartoon Network will be the 1993 Ganbare! SD Gundam TV series. The “SD” which stands for “Super Deformed” will altered for American release as the show’s title, “Superior Defender.”
Superior Defender is the next BIG thing when it comes to robots! This action packed and humorous story features robots – the Mobile, Knight and Musha Defenders – from three different worlds who join together to fight the enemy known as the Dark Axis. The new toy line will consist of snap-together action figures with various skill levels, 5-inch action figures, 1.5-inch figures, deluxe vehicles and playsets. The Superior Defender television series will also debut in Fall 2003 on Cartoon Network.
The images of upcoming domestic release “Superior Defender” toys published by Raving Toy Maniac leaves little question that Superior Defender is, in fact, SD Gundam.
Bandai has announced that the first volume of “Please Teacher” (Onegai Teacher) will be released on May 6th in a standard edition retailing for $29.98 and in a $54.98 version limited to 15,000 units.
The limited edition Please Teacher DVD 1 will include the debut DVD, a series collector’s box, a CD soundtrack, a sampler translated Onegai Teacher manga from publisher Comics One, a postcard set, and more bonuses yet to be announced.
Source: Anime on DVD
