AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Question:
What is your take on colored hairstyles? Un-natural colors like blue or green. During a previous character design class at the Art Institute, it was been mentioned that American animators are trying to stay away from colored hair and stick to natural colors to avoid mimicing anime. Also that colored hairstyles are best used for anime geared towards younger viewers.

I personally think that last statement is false because in Ghost in the Shell the major’s hair is purple, and it’s far from something that young viewers would be interested in. I do notice that un-natural colors are used more on females than males. Do you think a character with an un-natural colored hair loses potential to it’s overall design?

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The official website for the live action Saishu Heiki Kanojo motion picture now hosts a streaming Windows Media trailer. The film is scheduled to open in Japanese theaters on January 28, 2006.

Source: Twitch

The official Japanese website for the upcoming Nerima Daikon Brothers anime television series has updated and now hosts the first color images of the show’s cast.

Source: Moon Phase

The official Japanese website for the upcoming anime TV series Kage Kara Mamoru! has opened. Presently the site is just a placeholder image. The site will open with content on December 1st.

Source: Moon Phase

The official TV Asahi Pretty Cure website has announced that a third Pretty Cure TV series titled “Futari wa Precure Splash Star” will debut next spring. Further details will be released next month.

Source: Moon Phase

The official Japanese website for the upcoming Dai Mahou Touge anime series is now online. Presently the website is just a placeholder image.

Source: Moon Phase

According to Amazon, Viz Media has acquired translation rights to several new manga titles.

Skip Beat will debut in America in July 2006.
The Drifting Classroom, Law of Ueki, and Buso Renkin will debut in America in August 2006.
Zombie Powder (re-named “Zombie Power”), Beauty Pop, and Yakitate Japan will debut in America in September 2006.

Source: Anime on DVD

Right Stuf has announced release dates for two new anime DVD titles.

Boys Be… volume 1 will retail at $29.98 beginning February 28, 2006.
The adult anime DVD Vanilla Series: Rxxx (Ingoku Byouto) will retail at $24.98 beginning February 28, 2006.

Source: Anime on DVD

Dark Horse Comics has announced that its Super Manga Blast manga magazine will be discontinued following the December release of issue 59.

Since 2002, Super Manga Blast is the fourth domestic manga magazine to have its publication ended.

Source: Anime News Network

The Asahi Newspaper has reported that Takeo Yamashita, who wrote the music in the first Lupin III TV series, passed away on November 21st due to Cerebral Thrombosis. He was 75 years old. Yamashita is also noteworthy to anime fans for his musical contributions to classic anime including Ganba no Bouken.

Source: Anime News Service

The official website for the FUNimation Channel television network is now open. Details on the availability of the FUNimation Channel has not been announced yet.

Source: Anime News Network

Question:
What are some of the anime titles you would most like to see licensed for American release? I personally pray daily for a licensing announcement for the Hunter X Hunter anime.

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The AnimeNation offices and retail store will be closed tomorrow, Thursday November 24th, while the AnimeNation staff celebrate the Thanksgiving holidy with family. AnimeNation will resume normal business hours on Friday.

In a Flash video pop-up window on the series official site, voice actress Mai Nakahara announces that a second season of the Amaenaideyo anime, titled “Amaenaideyo!! Katsu,” will premier in January.

Source: Anime News Network

Japanese fan site Moon Phase now reports that a second season of the Ah! My Goddess anime TV series and an anime adaptation of Oowada Hideki’s manga series Daimahou Touge will premier next spring in OAV and TV series versions.

Moon Phase also reports that Studio Bones (Wolf’s Rain) will produce an anime TV series adaptation of Bisco Hatori’s Ouran Koukou Host Club manga series next year.