Watch the first episode of Innocent Venus for free on IGN.com! This is your chance for a sneak peek at the new, action-packed series from ADV Films before it is available on DVD on August 21st. Click Here to Watch!
Question:
Why aren’t there any anime about Japanese sports? As you discussed in previous articles, there are plenty of shounen anime glorifying American sports, yet there’s a noticeable lack of anime which even recognizes native Japanese sports, such as karate and kendo. Even sumo, Japan’s national sport, lacks representation in anime. Can you explain this disparity?
The homepage of Japanese pop vocalist KAORI has revealed that an anime television series adaptation of the upcoming Playstation 2 “love adventure” visual novel game Myself ; Yourself will premier in October.
Source: Moon Phase
Japanese fans have discovered that the TV Aichi network has broadcast a version of the current Moetan magical girl anime television series featuring uncensored transformation sequences. Other Japanese networks broadcasting the show air episodes that obscure graphic nudity. Japanese fan site Sazanami Kaihen hosts comparison screenshots of Nijihara Ink and Kuroi Sumi’s uncensored transformations. Please note that the screenshots contain potentially offensive nudity.
Source: Rakuga Kidou
Shin-Ei Douga, the anime studio responsible for producing anime including Doraemon, Crayon Shin-Chan, and Haré+Guu has announced its 2007 “Sensou Douwa” (war story) anime TV special. Futatsu no Kurumi (”Two Walnuts”), the sixth film in Shin-Ei’s series of annual WWII themed anime television movies for children, will air next month.
Futatsu no Kurumi is the story of a modern girl magically transported back in time to 1945, just a few days before Tokyo suffers devestating firebombing raids.
Source: Moon Phase
Shonen Magazine has formally announced that Manjou Meito & Wakayama Seiji’s mystery manga series Suteki Tantei Labyrinth (”Wonderful Detective Labyrinth”) will be adapted into an anime television series. Animate.tv reports that the anime will debut this fall.
Source: Moon Phase
Right Stuf International’s Anime Today podcast episode 45 features an interview with veteran manga scholar Frederik L. Schodt, focusing on Schodt’s upcoming book “The Astro Boy Essays: Osamu Tezuka, Mighty Atom and the Manga/Anime Revolution.”
At this past weekend’s Otakon convention, Bandai Entertainment announced its acquisition of distribution rights to four anime series:
Ayakashi Ayashi
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
My Otome Zwei
Toward the Terra television series
Code Geass will air on nationwide American television next year.
The “Sentou Yousei Shoujo Tasukete! Mave-chan” OAV spin-off from Sentou Yousei Yukikaze will be released on a stand-alone DVD retailing at $9.98 on October 2nd.
Source: Anime News Network
At this past weekend’s Otakon convention, Media Blasters announced its acquisition of translation rights to Natsumi Konjoh’s school comedy manga series “Mousou Shoujo Otaku Kei.”
Source: Anime on DVD
ICv2 has confirmed that FUNimation has laid off “around 10%” of its staff. FUNimation also recently shut down its “shortlived attempt to create a broad-based news and social networking site for anime fans,” AnimeOnline.
Question:
Why is it that there seems to be no industry for American manga? I don’t believe I could walk into my local comic book store and find any American manga. I’ve gone to stores like Barnes&Noble and see all kinds of “How To Draw Manga” books from American artist, but wouldn’t be able to go to the manga section and find any manga from American artists. I’ve read forums and blogs, and many say that in America manga is more of an art style then comic industry, so why does it not get recognized as more then a style?
I ask this because I hope to be an American manga artist someday, and would like to know what I should do to get into this almost invisible industry.
At this weekend’s Otacon convention, FUNimation formally announced its acquisition of domestic distribution rights to the Ouran High School Host Club and Sasami ~ Magical Girl Club television series, and the Baldr Force.exe Resolution OVA series.
Source: Anime on DVD
At this weekend’s Otacon convention, AD Vision formally announced its acquisition of domestic distribution rights to the Moonlight Mile and Venus Versus Virus television series and King of Bandit Jing: Seventh Heaven OVA series.
Venus Versus Virus and the Jing OVA series are tentatively planned for American release in November. The 12 episode Venus Versus Virus series will be released on 3 DVDs. All 3 Jing OVAs will be released on a single DVD.
Distribution plans for Moonlight Mile have not been determined yet.
Source: Anime on DVD
Japan’s Young Gangan Magazine has formally announced development of an TV anime adaptation of Masahiro Totsuka and Aguri Igarashi’s martial arts/school comedy manga series Bamboo Blade. The anime will be produced by AIC A.S.T.A.
Source: Moon Phase Message Board
ICv2 has published an exclusive interview with Bandai Visual USA president Tatsunori Konno in which Konno discusses the history of Bandai Visual, its future plans , the size of the American anime market, and its tendencies.
