AnimeNation Blog

WOWOW has opened its official homepage for the Wa Wa Wa Wappi-chan anime TV series that will premier on July 3rd.

Source: Moon Phase

The Japan Times has published a lengthy English language article that subtly distinguishes between Japanese manga and manga influenced international comics, and analyzes the international influence and dissemination of Japanese manga.

Source: Anime News Network

The Mainichi Daily News has reported that 13 year old actress Riko Narumi will star in a live action film adaptation of Akira Sasou’s award winning 1998 manga series “Shindou” (Child Prodigy). Narumi is well suited to portray a child piano prodigy because she first learned to play the piano at age 5.

Source: Akadot

HandHeld Entertainment has announced plans to offer AD Vision’s anime catalog for purchase and download for viewing on the ZVUE portable media player.

Source: Yahoo Financial News

4Gamer now hosts a downloadable WMV format trailer for the upcoming Japanese PC adventure game My Hime: Unmei no Keitoujyu Shura. The revised edition of the Unmei no Keitoujyu game will be released on June 30th.

Source: Moon Phase

Question:
A lot of anime fans, and especially casual viewers hold Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo in extremely low regard simply because it’s not a “serious” anime, and simply on the basis that it “doesn’t make sense.” Some have even judged the Toonami broadcast based solely on the commercials. In my opinion, those people don’t realize that the show is not supposed to be serious or make sense, and may or may not be judging it based on how they think anime should be . I would like to know what your thoughts about the show are. Do you, or have you enjoyed watching it? If not, do you find the show’s nonsensical humor to be detracting?

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At last weekend’s Anime Boston convention, FUNimation announced its acquisition of distribution rights to the Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid and Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad anime television series. The first DVD volume of Full Metal Panic 2nd Raid is tentatively scheduled for release on October 10th.

FUNimation spokesman Lance Heiskell confirmed to Anime on DVD that FUNimation’s Full Metal Panic license includes the Episode 00 promotional preview and the “Wari to Hima na Sentaichou no Ichinichi” OVA.

FUNimation Films is hoping to screen the Fullmetal Alchemist motion picture in “all major cities.” FUNimation Films also plans theatrical distribution for the live action film Shinobi.

FUNimation has opened its FUNiGIRLS and Babes - Blades - Blood - Beauty web communities targeted at female and male anime fans respectively.

Source: Anime News Network

At last weekend’s Anime Boston convention, Media Blasters announced plans to co-produce a new Kite OVA, possibly for release next year. The 45 minute long OVA will feature an entirely new cast and story similar to the original Kite.

Media Blasters also announced its acquisition of distribution rights to director Takeshi Miike’s live action film “Zebraman.”

Source: Anime on DVD

At last weekend’s Anime Boston convention, AD Vision announced its acquisition of distribution rights to the Jinki:Extend anime TV series.

AD Vision announced a new policy of waiting at least a year after the final individual DVD release of a series before releasing a complete series set.

AD Vision may eventually release the Elfen Lied OVA, but does not have distribution rights to the “Battle Angel” OVA nor distribution rights to any more St. Seiya TV episodes.

Source: Anime News Network

Broccoli Books has announced its acquisition of translation rights to Arashi Shindo’s manga adaptation of Makai Senki Disgaea, and Koge-Donbo’s Yoki Koto Kiku.

The single volume Disgaea manga will be released in September. Yoki Koto Kiku will be sold in Borders Group bookstores from July through September, and will be available for wide release in October.

Source: Anime on DVD

Central Park Media managing director John O’Donnell has formally revealed that CPM has laid off a substantial number of its employees, a move forced by the bankruptcy of CPM’s biggest customer, the Musicland Group.

Source: ICv2

Game News Site EG has announced that Yumeta Company (Animation Runner Kuromi) is now producing an anime TV series adaptation of Koei’s romance simulation game Kiniro no Corda.

Source: Anime News Service

The official Japanese homepage for the upcoming Busou Renkin anime television series, based on the manga by Nobuhiro Watsuki, is now open.

Source: Anime News Service

Starchild has opened its official Japanese homepage for the upcoming Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru (”Otoboku”) anime TV series, which was first announced by Caramel Box, creators of the original Otoboku PC game, in September 2005.

(Although the title is actually written as “Otome wa Obokusama ni Koishiteru,” it’s pronounced, “Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru.” Thanks to Vitruvius for the clarification.)

Source: Moon Phase

Banpresto has opened its official homepage for its upcoming Playstation 2 action game Rurouni Kenshin: Enjou! Kyoto Rinne.

Source: Anime News Service