AnimeNation Anime News Blog

The Hollywood Film Festival has announced that Howl’s Moving Castle will be recognized with its “Hollywood Animation of the Year Award.” The award will be presented on October 24th.

The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame has announced an event to honor Robotech with an award for its contribution to the genre of Science Fiction. The free, public gala is scheduled for Wednesday, August 31st at 7 p.m.

Source: Anime News Network

Galaxy Anime has updated with a video sample of AD Vision’s “Americanized” version of “Ghost Stories,” a preview of “Ghost Talkers Daydream,” and video game trailers for Genji: Dawn of the Samurai, and Urban Reign.

Geneon Entertainment has announced an agreement to provide licensed merchandise based on some of its hottest anime properties in an exclusive 90-day window to specialty retailer Hot Topic. Beginning September 1st, t-shirts, stickers and buttons for Gankutsuou: The Count Of Monte Cristo, Fafner, R.O.D. The TV, and Jubei Chan 2 will appear on special retail displays in the chain’s 670 stores.

Article provided by Galaxy Anime

Bandai of Japan has announced development of a Samurai Champloo “HipHop Samurai Action” game. The game will be released for the Japanese PS2 this winter.

Article provided by Galaxy Anime

Question:
In general I have nothing but respect and admiration for Japanese voice acting, but there’s one instance I find rather annoying. That is the falsetto laugh exhibited by many female antagonists. The most recent example that comes to mind is Rukya of Hanaukyo Maid Team. The way she scornfully laughs to herself whenever the occasion arises sounds completely off key, in contrast to the otherwise excellent portrayal of emotions. Is this a reflection of actual Japanese behavior or is it a stylized representation exclusive to anime?

(more…)

The cover of the October issue of Kadokawa’s manga magazine The Sneaker contains an announcement that author Nagaru Tanigawa’s “Suzumiya Haruhi” series of novels will be adapted into an anime television series.

Source: Moon Phase

Game Watch has published new cel art character models and samples of background art from Production I.G.’s currently in-production King of Fighters “short” anime. The official length, format, title and release date for the anime are still undetermined.

Source: Moon Phase

According to the Mainichi Daily News, talks between Toshiba and a partnership of Sony and Matsushita regarding a possible merger of next generation HD-DVD and Blue-Ray DVD technology have irretrievably broken down. At this point, all signs suggest that next year the two incompatible DVD formats will coexist, like VHS and Beta videocassette formats did in the early 1980s.

Question:
Is there any other manga or anime that has been as heavily censored in that way that CMX’s version of the Tenjho Tenge manga has been? Is this the first time such an extreme amount of censorship has been put upon a particular title or titles?

(more…)

At this past weekend’s Otakon convention, AN Entertainment revealed a tentative December 27th release date for the first DVD volume of Haré+Guu.

AN Entertainment also confirmed plans to re-release Risky Safety and Miami Guns in complete series sets some time in the future.

At this past weekend’s Otakon convention, Central Park Media announced plans for the release of an Armored Trooper Votoms DVD boxed set. Details regarding exact content and release date haven’t been determined yet.

CPM’s new anime title acquisitions are the Munto 2 and Animation Runner Kuromi 2 OAVs and a domestic re-release of the long out of print Outlanders OAV.

CPM has also acquired translation rights to the Korean comic series Angel Shop, and Kung Fu Jungle Boy.

CPM also revealed tentative plans to release more Angel Blade next year.

Source: Anime on DVD

At this past weekend’s Otakon convention, Right Stuf International announced its acquisition of translation rights to the 1963 Tetsuwan Atom (Astro Boy) and 1965 Jungle Emperor (Kimba the White Lion) television series. Both shows will be released uncut with their original Japanese language.

RSI revealed plans to re-release the Irresponsible Captain Tylor OVA series in an “Ultra Collection” boxed set.

RSI has begun work on the English translation of 2×2=Shinobuden and welcomes any information and explanations that fans and fan translators can provide about the show’s obscure Japanese pop culture references and jokes.

Source: Anime News Network

At this past weekend’s Otakon convention, AD Vision revealed plans to release “Ghost Stories” (Gakkou no Kaiden) with a near totally improvised, “Americanized” English dub that is, “raunchier and hipper than the original.” ICv2 News writes, “This is the first time such wholesale re-crafting of a series has been undertaken as a new artistic work… If successful, it may engender a new art form, with anime visuals and new scripts.”

Sennin Productions has announced the first ever anime convention to be held in Lafayette, Louisiana. MechaCon will be held at the Hilton Lafayette & Towers from August 26th-28th.

The opening animation sequence for the upcoming “Happy 7 ~The TV Manga~” anime television series is now available online in WMV8, WMV9, and QuickTime formats.

Source: Moon Phase