Infinity Studios has announced its acquisition of translation rights to Korean artist Sung-Woo Park’s comic series Chun Rhang Yhur Jhun, the prequel to Sung-Woo Park’s popular manwha series “NOW.” Chun Rhang Yhur Jhun volume 1 will feature a dust jacket, a fold-out poster printed on embossed paper, and select color pages at a retail price of $10.95. Volume 1 will go on sale nationwide in March 2006.
Viz has announced that the Upper Deck company will produce stickers and wall decals based on Naruto, and Everbrite, LLC. will produce Naruto themed mini tin signs, military dog tags, a door knob hanger, a light switch plate, a night light alarm clock and an LED illuminated night light.
Source: Anime News Network
Question:
Why do people believe that anime is just a style of animation or storytelling? People call shows that are anime-influenced “anime.” Or because a show incorporates “the Japanese style of cartoon storytelling/animation,” it’s anime. You see this a lot with manga these days; if it looks and is structured like manga, then it gets labeled as “manga” and people are none the wiser about it. Is this action justified? Is it ok?
Japan’s Quicktime homepage now hosts theatrical trailers for Arashi no Yoru ni, an anime adaptation of Yuichi Kimura’s children’s book, and Gonzo’s first theatrical anime, Brave Story, an adaptation of a novel by Miyuki Miyabe.
According to Anime News Service, Yasutaka Tsutsui’s 1972 juvenile sci-fi novel Toki Wo Kakeru Shoujo (The Girl Who Conquered Time) and Yukino Sai and Yura Kairi’s novel & manga series Saiunkoku Monogatari will both be adapted into anime released next year. No details about release format or production studios is available yet.
Fortune Magazine has published a lengthy profile of AD Vision, focusing on the company’s profitable grassroots tactics which starkly contrast the business routines of bigger Hollywood film distributors.
Some of the most significant revelations in the article are a statement that AD Vision created an “intentionally inaccurate translation of the script” for “Ghost Stories” purely to stir up controversy and boost sales; and that AD Vision has now generated roughly half the estimated budget necessary to produce its live action Evangelion film.
The article also praises fan translators, confirming that titles which are popular in the fansub community sell well upon commercial release. And Cartoon Network creative director Jason DeMarco cites fansubs as a valuable form of market research and advertising.
Source: Anime on DVD
Fan site The Comic Book Guy.com has published exclusive interviews with former editor at TOKYOPOP Jake Forbes, and director of manga for Del Rey Dallas Middaugh.
Article provided by Otaku Alliance
The Cartoon Network has reportedly officially canceled plans for a sixth season of its Teen Titans animated series. The anime-style series is popular among hardcore anime fans.
Source: TitansGo
Question:
For the American animation industry, it is well known that most, if not all, inbetween work has been done by Korean Studios for well over a decade. And I have read that some Japanese studios are following America’s lead by employing more Korean studios as well. Again in order to reduce production costs. With both the Korean and Chinese animation industries beginning to develop their own productions, could this negatively affect the Japanese animation industry? Whether it be in the form of salaries or number of productions per year? Could this also be a boon for the anime licensing companies? If Japan begins to find more competition within the Pacific Rim, they may begin to reduce licensing fees in order to find some other means of profitability?
The official Japanese website for the Kagihime Monogatari - Eikyuu Alice Rinbukyoku (”Key Princess Story Eternal Alice Rondo”) anime TV series is now online. The 13 episode series created by Steel Angel Kurumi & UFO Princess Valkyrie creators Kaishaku is scheduled to premier on January 3rd at 1:45 AM.
The official Japanese website for upcoming anime TV series Renkin 3 Kyuu Magical? Pokaan is now online. The series is tentatively schedule to premier on Japanese television next spring. [Series title translation courtesy of Vitruvius, November 29, 2005.]
Source: Moon Phase
The November 26th news update on the official Japanese webpage for Ai Yawaza’s manga series Nana reports that a Nana anime TV series will air on the Nippon Television Network next spring.
Source: Anime News Service
In a new interview published in the first issue of Kadokawa Shoten’s NewWORDS Magazine, Gonzo Digimation founder and president Shouji Murahama has revealed plans to create a new production company called “Gonzo Revolution” which will film live action movies. Gonzo Revolution’s first project will be the live action Afro Samurai motion picture starring American actor Samuel L. Jackson (first announced last July). Gonzo Revolution’s second project will tentatively be a live action film adaptation of the Blue Sub No. 6 anime series (itself an adaptation of a novel by Satoru Ozawa). The Blue Submarine no. 6 movie will be directed by Yukikaze director Masahiko Okura.
Source: Anime News Service
DramaQueen has reportedly acquired English language translation rights to Masara Minase’s Empty Heart and Shoko Ohmine’s Lovely Sick manga series.
Digital Manga has reportedly acquired translation rights to 7 more manga titles: Close the Last Door, The Day of Revolution, The Sky Over My Spectacles, Dear Myself, Hybrid Child, The Whole Family of Nakagamike, and Project X - Nissin Cup Noodle.
Source: Anime on DVD
Gunota Headlines now hosts an English translation of a recently published Japanese interview with Bandai Chief Governance Officer Kazunori Ueno. The interview discusses Bandai’s merger with video game company Namco, future plans, and estimates of Bandai’s success internationally. Anime fans may be particularly interested in Ueno’s confirmation of lower than anticipated success for the Gundam franchise in America.
For reference, the term “gunpla” is the Japanese abbreviation for “Gundam plastic model kit.”
Source: Anime News Network
The official Wings of Rean website has announced that the series’ first episode will be available for free online viewing from 9pm December 10th until 9am December 11th (Japan Standard Time). It’s not clear yet if the streaming video will be accessible to international viewers, or limited to internet IP addresses located in Japan only.
Source: Anime News Network
