AnimeNation Anime News Blog

TOKYOPOP has announced an agreement with actress Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina, the Teenage Witch) and screenwriter Dan Gordon (Wyatt Earp, The Hurricane) to develop a live action motion picture “inspired by” the Samurai Girl: Real Bout High School manga and anime series. In this “delicious action/comedy mix of Clueless meets Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” Melissa Joan Heart will star as twenty-something-year-old Japanese girl named Ryoko who must destroy a coven of murderous wolverines that threaten to destroy mankind once every 5,000 years.

Source: Anime on DVD

The official Japanese website for the upcoming anime TV series Sunabozu now hosts the 2 minute long teaser trailer in streaming Windows Media format.

Source: Moon Phase

TV Tokyo now hosts streaming Real Media trailers for the upcoming anime TV series My Hime, Bouken Ou Beat, and Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Monsters GX.

The official Japnese website for the upcoming Playstation 2 bishoujo mecha adventure game Tenku Danzai Skelter Heaven now hosts a 4:32 long trailer in MPEG4 AVI format. Although the website doesn’t provide any details, the game will be complimented by an anime release.

Source: Moon Phase

Gonzo Studios has announced the February 24, 2005 release of the Sentou Yousei Shoujo Tasukete! Meve-chan OAV, a “serious & hard SF” spin-off from the Sentou Yousei Yukikaze OAV series.

The 30 minute long OAV will be released in a standard edition DVD retailing at 6090 yen, and a 7350 yen limited edition that includes a Meve-chan figure and ending theme song CD single.

M.O.E. has opened its official Japanese website for the upcoming anime TV series UG - Ultimate Girls.

Source: Moon Phase

Although it’s presently only a placeholder page, the official website for the Eien no Aseria - The Spirit of Eternity Sword OAV series is now open. The anime is tentatively scheduled for a winter 2005 release.

Source: Moon Phase

ICv2 News has published the first released image of the Cartoon Network’s original cartoon series “Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi,” based on the popular J-pop group Puffy. The cartoon series will feature live action segments starring the real life band performing the group’s catchy J-Pop hits. The series will debut on the Cartoon Network on Friday, November 19 at 7:30 pm (ET, PT).

Midnight Eye has updated with numerous articles and reviews of genre topics including an interview with Mamoru Oshii, a historical look at the pioneers of Japanese animation, and numerous new reviews, including Steamboy and the live action Cutie Honey.

Source: Anime News Network

Viz has officially announced the upcoming release of five new English translated shoujo manga titles. Each will retail at $9.99.

W Juliet (”Double Juliet”) - Available November 9th
Dolls - Available November 9th
From Far Away - Available November 9th
Here is Greenwood - Available November 9th
Wild Com - Available November 23rd

Source: Anime on DVD

Seven Seas Entertainment has officially announced its plans to enter the American manga industry by promoting and publishing original Japanese style comics. Seven Seas acknowledges Japan as the birthplace of manga, but “seeks to promote the concept of ‘world manga’ by collaborating with talented international writers and artists to develop stories with a universal appeal for a worldwide audience,” instead of translating Japanese manga.

Source: Anime on DVD

Former Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi has publicly revealed his desire to see Nintendo develop its own anime productions based on Nintendo characters and franchises. The Nintendo corporation will formally consider the possibility of developing an animation division during its business conference next month.

Source: GameSpot

The 2003 Godzilla film, Gojira tai Mothra tai Mechaagojira: Tokyo SOS, will be released on American DVD under the abbreviated name “Godzilla: Tokyo SOS” on December 14th at a retail price of $22.49. Also scheduled for DVD release on December 14th is the 1967 film Son of Godzilla (Kaijuto no Kessen: Gojira no Musuko).

Source: Tokyo Monsters

Underland Online has published its positive reveiw of AN Entertainment’s Miami Guns DVD volume 3.

TV Tokyo now hosts a streaming, Real Media trailer for the upcoming Gothic vampire romance anime TV series Tsukuyomi - Moon Phase.

Source: Moon Phase