AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Question:
Lately there seems to be trend among characters – especially female ones – in anime. Specifically, the correlation between their percieved age and actual age. In the newest HiME show, the main character is supposedly around 13-14 years old, yet she has body of an older teen. Lucky Star’s Akira looks to be a typical junior student, but her personality doesn’t match. Maria from Hayate the Combat Butler says that she is only 17, but readers or viewers percieve her as being older. There are also some more extreme cases of adults being cast as “loli,” like Mitsuki from Smash Hit. Opposite applies, like Mahou Sensei Negima’s Negi being 10 years old [but] acting mature to the point of causing his older students to swoon over him. Could you explain this trend, if that’s what it is? It seems so far-fetched to me.

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Madhouse has revealed plans to develop a full CG anime film titled “Yona Yona Penguin.” The story about a human girl in a world of goblins who believe that their saviour will be a penguin will be co-produced by Madhouse and French company Denis Friedman Productions, and directed by Rintaro. The film will be released in Japan in December 2008, and will also receive international distribution.

Source: Anime News Network

Anime News Network hosts a transcript and video footage of director Shinichi Wantanabe’s recent guest appearance at the Alamo Drafthouse theater in Houston, Texas.

Question:
I am grown African American man who is big anime fan. My question is, is there any anime films based on African Culture? Maybe a movie with black characters, with [the same] animation skill that is put into other anime films. If there is, can [you] recommend any?

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Coming Soon now hosts an exclusive interview with director Satoshi Kon that deeply delves into the making of Kon’s latest film, Paprika.

Source: Anime News Network

Media Blasters is seeking to hire an assistant video editor, junior web developer, and subtitle/timing editor. All positions are for employment in the Manhattan area. Anime on DVD hosts specific qualifications and application guidelines.

Commercial online streaming movie distributor ReelTime has arranged an agreement to offer anime titles owned by the American branch of Japanese licensor Enoki Films. Titles will include Utena, His & Her Circumstances, Cosmo Warrior Zero, the first El Hazard television series, Wind in the Willows, Huck & Tom’s Mississippi Adventure, and others.

Source: Anime News Network

Question:
Is Pretty Cure the next Sailor Moon series?

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Question:
Can you import anime straight from Japan? If so, how?

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The “obi” on the new release volume 5 of Masaru Katori & Jiro Ando’s manga series Shion no Ou includes a confirmation that the shogi/murder mystery story will be adapted into an anime television series.

Source: Moon Phase

Japanese Foreign Minister, and renowned manga fan, Taro Aso yesterday announced the establishment of an “International Manga Award” to recognize foreign (non-Japanese) “manga” artists. “We want to make this award the ‘Nobel Prize’ of manga,” said Aso, who also mentioned that one purpose of the award is to “increase the popularity of Japanese pop culture and subcultures.”

Funding for the award will come from the Japan Foundation, Japan’s endowment to support international relations.

Nominations for the award will come from the public and recommendations submitted by Japanese and international publishing companies. Famous manga authors Michiko Satonaka (Tenjou no Niji), Takashi Yanase (Anpan Man), Tetsuya Chiba (Ashita no Joe) and a group of former chief editors from some of Japan’s largest manga magazines will select a winner on June 22. The award will be presented at a ceremony in Tokyo on July 2.

Source: Anime News Network

ADV Films has opened its official English language homepage for its upcoming domestic release of the sexy, sci-fi adventure 009-1. The site features interviews, artwork, character profiles, downloads, and more. The first 009-1 DVD is scheduled for release on June 19th.

The New York Times has published a philosophical interview with director Satoshi Kon regarding his film Paprika and his perspective on the role of anime in contemporary society.

Source: Anime News Network

Twitch has published a positive, relatively spoiler-free review of the new full CG anime film Vexille. The film is scheduled for Japanese theatrical release in August.

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that film production company Distant Horizon is developing a live action film adaptation of Santa Inoue’s Rinjin 13-go (Neighbor no. 13) manga series. The manga was adapted into a Japanese live action film in 1995. Distant Horizon is also behind the long in pre-production American film adaptation of Yasuomi Umetsu’s Kite anime.

Variety Magazine has reported that director Gordon Chan will direct a live action, English language King of Fighters movie, based on the popular video game franchise. The film will be jointly financed by Japanese production and rights management group Micott-Basara and Australian-U.S. sales agent Arclight/Easternlight.

Source: Anime News Network & Twitch