AnimeNation Blog

Mediaweek has reported that Adult Swim will broadcast Eureka 7 and Bleach.

Source: Anime News Network

TheOtaku.com now hosts a transcript of the panel interview with the director, writer, and character designer of the GUNxSWORD anime TV series, along with one of its voice actors. The interview was conducted last weekend at Sakura-Con.

Source: Anime News Network

Media Blasters has opened a website announcing its plans to release Voltron: Defender of the Universe on DVD beginning this September. The series will be released over 8 DVD boxed sets, each set containing roughly 15 episodes with 5.1 audio, remastered video, character sketches, TV ads and news footage, and new extras created “with help from the original producers and staff.”

Beginning next year Media Blasters will begin to release uncut, subtitled DVDs of the original Japanese series Hundred Beast King Go Lion and Armored Squadron Dairugger XV, the shows that were the basis for the American Voltron series.

Source: Anime News Network

MatsuriCon will be changing hotels from the Radisson Worthington to the Comfort Inn Conference Center Columbus North for their convention taking place next month from April 20th-23rd.

A computer glitch in the Radisson’s computer and miscommunication in their sales department caused them to double book all of MatsuriCon’s meeting spaces and hotel rooms. As a solution, MatsuriCon will be moved to the sister hotel, the Comfort Inn. Attendees that have reserved hotel rooms at the Radisson will not have to cancel and re-book; all of the reservations from MatsuriCon’s block will automatically be transferred to the Comfort Inn, with a discounted $74.99 per night convention rate.

Question:
What is your take on Funimation and other anime companies’ recent forays into live-action Japanese TV and film? Does it seem to you like the industry as a whole is moving more toward an animation-and-live product mix rather than the traditional anime-only catalog? Is this trend widespread enough to be considered the next step in the anime business model?

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The official homepage for the upcoming Coyote Ragtime Show anime television series now hosts a Windows Media trailer available for online viewing or direct download.

Source: Moon Phase

The official homepage for the upcoming Strawberry Panic anime television series now hosts a 1:30 streaming trailer in Windows Media and Real Media formats. Strawberry Panic is scheduled to premier on April 3rd.

Source: Moon Phase

Japanese adult PC game production studio Candysoft has announced that its popular erotic adventure game Tsuyokiss ~Mighty Heart~ (Warning: site contains images with mild nudity) will be adapted into an anime television series. The first episode will premier in July.

The show will be directed by Shinichiro Kimura (Karin, Snow Fairy Sugar). Mahoraba screenwriter Yasutomo Yamada will provide the series composition and script. The series will be animated by Studio Hibari.

Source: Moon Phase

A 3 minute anime trailer for the upcoming fantasy adventure PC game Relict 2 ~Episode Moon~ is now available from producer SP-Janis. The trailer is available as a downloadable 136MB MPG file. The opening theme song is also available as a 2.7MB downloadable MP3. The Relict 2 game will go on sale in Japan on April 28th and retail at 9,240 yen including tax.

Source: Moon Phase

Biglobe has opened its official Japanese homepage for the upcoming Black Blood Brothers anime TV series. The series, produced by Studio Live (Grenadier) and Group TAC (Miami Guns), is scheduled to premier later this year.

Source: Moon Phase

The TV Osaka television network has opened its official homepage for the Onegai My Melody Kuru Kuru Shuffle anime television series. The second Onegai My Melody series will premier on April 2nd.

Source: Moon Phase

Japanese fan site Moon Phase reports that “Musashi,” an anime TV series created by Lupin the 3rd creator Monkey Punch, will premier on the Japanese BS-i satellite TV network on April 9th.

Question:
How many R2J [Japanese DVD Region 2] releases have an English sub? I believe most Studio Ghibli works have one. Can you recommend any other subbed titles that are unlicensed for R1?

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FUNimation has announced its acquisition of North American theatrical and home video distribution rights to last year’s successful live action Japanese romantic action film Shinobi ~Heart Under Blade~. The movie is based on Futaro Yamada’s novel Kouga Ninpoucho, which was also adapted into the manga and anime TV series Basilisk.

Source: Anime News Network

The cover of the May issue of Japan’s Megami Magazine reveals plans for a My Otome OVA series. According to Moon Phase, the series will be 4 episodes and premier in limited UHF TV broadcast this July before a fall home video release.