The European branch of Viz Media has announced its acquisition of broadcast rights to the acclaimed romantic drama anime series Honey & Clover. Anime on DVD reports that Viz has not licensed the series for North American release.
Geneon is now seeking a full time DVD production assistant with 1-2 years of prior Japanese to English localization or DVD post production experience.
Source: Anime News Network
Question:
Why are there so many great series that never seem to get licensed for North American release? I know there are a number of great titles that deserve to be brought over here, but it seems as if the companies don’t ever mention the titles they’re interested in, or seem to bother noticing. For example it’s been over a year since the Xenosaga anime series has ended. With such popularity of the game itself, why hasn’t anyone been able to license it over here? Is it because they really think the majority of the public wouldn’t be interested in the anime at all? That doesn’t seem to make sense. Don’t the companies ever listen to the fans instead of being afraid of possible profits or listening to their shareholders?
Gangan Wing Magazine has announced that Tahiko Kimura’s romantic comedy manga series Seto no Hanayome (“Bride of the Straits”) will be adapted into anime form.
Source: Moon Phase
Question:
I am a huge fan of Jim Terry’s original Force Five. I realize these are watered down versions of anime overseas, but for me, this was the first taste of super robot anime I’ve ever seen. This is also my favorite genre. I’ve seen the new Getter Robo and Mazinkaiser anime and loved them. I see Gaiking was remade in Japan late last year. Are there any plans to remake any other “old school” super robot anime? If there are, is there any hope they will be licensed for distribution in the US?
Tohokushinsha has formally announced that Production IG will animate a new anime television series revival of the 1975 giant robot anime show Yuusha Raideen (“Brave Raideen”). The new Reideen TV series will be directed by Mitsuru Hongo (IGPX, Candidate for Goddess) and will premier next spring. A new Brave Reideen manga will debut in the January 2007 issue of Monthly Shonen Ace Magazine, which goes on sale in Japan next month.
Source: Moon Phase
Geneon has inaugurated its fan club website Geneon Spot. Registration is free until the end of the year and registered users may view a free streaming version of Ergo Proxy episode 1 until November 21st.
Source: Anime on DVD
The Japanese Xbox.com homepage now hosts a streaming 8 minute long trailer for the upcoming Xbox 360 game Dead or Alive Xtreme 2.
Adult Source Media has announced that its latest adult anime title, Perverted Thomas, is now available. The 30 minute long bilingual DVD includes a 30 minute bonus feature and retails at $24.95.
Question:
I’ve been reading Fruits Basket till the latest volume, and it’s extremely good and has sold very well – both the DVD and the manga. So why hasn’t Fruits Basket aired on TV? Do you think a network will ever be interested in the series, because they’d certainly profit from it?
The first episode of the Kimi ga Nozomu Eien spin-off internet anime series Ayumayu Theater is now available for free online viewing.
Source: Moon Phase
The Japanese side of the official GR -Giant Robo- homepage now hosts a streaming trailer for the upcoming Giant Robo television series. Animate.tv reports that the new Giant Robo will premier online on Sg-TV (Softgarage TV) in January 2007 and on Animax pay-per-view in February 2007.
Source: Moon Phase
Bandai Visual has formally announced that the 1988 Gunbuster: Aim For The Top OAV series will be released on American DVD on February 20, 2007. The six episode series will be released as a 3 disc DVD boxed set including 30 minutes of bonus material, a 24 page booklet, and a collector’s box retailing at $64.99. No mention of an English dub has been provided, suggesting that the series may be released only with its original Japanese language.
Source: Anime on DVD
Seven Seas has announced the launch of its “Strawberry” line of translated “yuri” (girl-girl romance/lesbian) manga, which will debut with the December release of Kashimashi, and will begin in earnest with the 2007 releases of titles including Sakurako Kimino’s Strawberry Panic manga and novels, Mera Hakamada’s Saigo no Seifuku (“The Last Uniform”), and Ito Ei’s Tetragrammaton Labyrinth manga series. Manga in the Strawberry line will be published in Japanese A5 (5 7/8″ x 8 1/4″) size.
Digital Manga has announced its acquisition of a number of new yaoi manga titles:
Love Recipe
In the Walnut
Picnic
Othello
(Your Voice Likes) Sweet Whisper
World’s End
Ordinary Crush
Can’t Win With You
Words of Devotion
Nakimushi na Little
Lovers’ Flat
Invisible Boy
The Ai no Kusabi novels
Digital Manga also announced plans to develop a line of “OJEL (Original Japanese English Language)” boy love comics created by Japanese artists for American, and possibly later Japanese release.
Source: Anime on DVD
