AnimeNation Blog

Question:
I have heard from various English-speaking companies (namely Hirameki International) that there are three parts to the “Holy Trinity” of Japanese entertainment: anime, manga, and visual novels. While you write at length about the former two categories, I don’t recall you examine the visual novel medium in-depth. I would like to know your opinion of visual novels, your favorite titles (if applicable), and your thoughts on VN-to-anime conversions (which, in my experience, have ranged from horrid to breathtaking). For the sake of completion, I would appreciate if you take both all-age and adult-only titles into account.

(more…)

Capcom has formally announced that the “Ryusei no Rockman” anime television series will premier on the TV Tokyo network on October 7th.

Source: Moon Phase

ICv2 has published two editorial responses to TOKYOPOP’s new website design and its plan to sell select manga titles exclusively through the TOKYOPOP website. The first negative response comes from Sydney, Australia based retailer Serenity Studios. The second, equally negative response comes from West Virginia based retailer The Anime Corner.

The Japanese Moon Phase message board has uncovered the first known image of the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS anime television series, which is scheduled to premier next year.

Source: Rakuga Kidou

The current Japanese DVD release of the 14 episode Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi anime television series is accumulating phenomenal sales numbers. Kadokawa Entertainment marketing director Takafumi Ishibashi has reportedly stated that Suzumiya Haruhi could become a tentpole title for Kadokawa similar to what Gundam is for Bandai. With Japanese DVD sales of 10,000 or more units considered a smash hit, the Suzumiya Haruhi DVD volume 0 has sold 70,000 units, and the volume 1 DVD has sold 90,000 copies so far.

Source: Anime News Service

The Nikkei Business newspaper has published a lengthy Japanese language article analysing the current condition of Japan’s anime industry. The article cites Studio Ghibli’s Gedo Senki as a possible example of anime from newer generations of Japanese animators that aren’t able to compare with the appeal and quality of works by veteran Japanese animators. While Gedo Senki has consistently topped the Japanese box office, the film is reportedly only generating 60% of the performance of 2001’s Spirited Away. There are more anime television series broadcast in Japan now than ever before (103 per week in the Tokyo area as of July), but relatively few of these titles are profitable on DVD.

Increasing export of animation work overseas to countries including South Korea and China has reduced costs, but has also resulted in fewer Japanese animators with skilled experience in creating animation. Reportedly most Japanese anime studios now color animation cels by computer, but the long running Sazae-san is one exception. A staff of 50 animators still hand paint every one of the show’s animation cels.

Source: Anime News Service

The Phoenix Anime Fest has announced that Kaiju Big Battel will make a rare guest appearance at this year’s convention, along with guests Tsutomu Nihei, Kate Higgins, and Spike Spencer. The 2006 Phoenix Anime Fest will be held on December 1-3 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Fan site Papo de Budega now hosts an interview with the Animax television network’s Brazilian Marketing Manager Stefania Granito.

Question:
Do Japanese R2 DVDs have better extras than their US R1 counterparts? Also, are the R2 first press discs identical to the later printings just without inserts or what?

(more…)

Japanese fan site SWFBLOG now hosts a video segment, in English, from a Japanese television broadcast about the difficulty of translating Japanese into English. The video clip uses Bang Zoom’s work on Twelve Kingdoms as its example.

Article provided by Starchild

Gonzo Digimation Holdings has formally announced plans to release the Project Papo animation on standard DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray media on November 3rd.

Source: Anime on DVD

Digital Manga has announced release dates for a number of new manga titles.

J-Boy volume 1 will retail at $16.95 beginning November 1, 2006
Seven volume 1 will retail at $12.95 beginning January 13, 2007
Flower of Life volume 1 will retail at $12.95 beginning January 17, 2007
Wagamama Kitchen volume 1 will retail at $12.95 beginning February 28, 2007
Loveholic volume 1 will retail at $12.95 beginning March 14, 2007
Alcohol, Shirt and Kiss volume 1 will retail at $12.95 beginning March 21, 2007
The Day Which I Became A Butterfly volume 1 will retail at $12.95 beginning March 21, 2007
Solfege volume 1 will retail at $12.95 beginning March 28, 2007
Kurashina-sensei’s Passion volume 1 will retail at $12.95 beginning April 11, 2007
Fake Fur volume 1 will retail at $12.95 beginning April 25, 2007
Waru volume 1 will retail at $12.95 beginning May 23, 2007
La Vie en Rose volume 1 will retail at $12.95 beginning May 23, 2007
Paradise on the Hill volume 1 will retail at $12.95 beginning May 30, 2007

Source: Anime on DVD

ICv2 has published a lengthy new interview with TOKYOPOP CEO Mike Kiley on the decision to release some TOKYOPOP manga exclusively through the online TOKYOPOP store.

Question:
What do you think about Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-chan? I find it funny!

(more…)

According to Japanese fan site Moon Phase, computer game production studio Age Soft has revealed that there are plans for a “Kimi ga Nozomu Eien: Haruka Route” anime series.