Question:
With Justin Sevakis’ recent Open Letter to the Industry, he claims that the Japanese anime industry needs to change its methods to embrace technology to work to its advantage and combat fansubs. Do you see the Japanese doing anything about this, or do you think they’ll continue to do things as they do now?
The official homepage for the upcoming Shigofumi anime television series now hosts a 2:30 long streaming trailer. The series is scheduled to premier in January.
Source: Moon Phase
Japanese publisher MediaWorks has formally announced development of an anime television series adaptation of Masakazu Iwasaki’s sci-fi romantic comedy manga series Kemeko-Deluxe. Iwasaki may be best known to Americans as the creator of the Popo-Can manga, published in America by Infinity Studios. The Kemeko Deluxe anime “pilot film” is available on the official Kemeko Deluxe homepage.
The 2008 television series will be directed by Haré+Guu director Tsutomu Mizushima and animated by Hal Film Maker (DearS, Princess Tutu).
Source: Anime News Network & Tokyo Anime Center
Japanese publisher MediaWorks has announced an anime television series (and drama CD) adaptation of Yusaku Igurashi’s romantic comedy light novel series Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu (Haruka Nogizaki’s Secret), a story about a high school boy that discovers that the most respected girl in school is secretly an anime otaku. The anime adaptation is planned for release next year.
Source: Anime News Network
Japanese publisher MediaWorks has formally announced development of an anime television series adaptation of Bunjuro Nakayama & Yukari Higa’s fantasy manga series Shina Dark ~Kuroki Tsuki no Ou to Soheki no Tsuki no Himegimi~. Reportedly the anime series will be produced by Shaft (Tsukuyomi ~Moon Phase~, Negima!?) and directed by Akiyuki Shinbou (Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei).
Source: Moon Phase
Hakusensha’s LaLa Magazine has formally announced that Matsuri Hino’s shoujo vampire drama manga series Vampire Knight will be adapted into an anime television series.
Source: Anime News Network
Japanese satellite TV network Animax has announced that the Sugai-kun to Kazoku Ishi (”Sguy and the Family Stone”) anime movie will open in Toho owned theaters throughout Japan on February 16, 2008. The Flash animation parody movie is a spin-off from the Frogman Show anime sketch comedy television series.
Source: Moon Phase
An official Japanese website announcing plans for an Aquarian Age motion picture, based on Brocoli’s popular trading card game, is now online. The site does not clarify if the movie will be animated or live action.
Source: Ultimatum
The Japanese, internet based international anime streaming service BOST has launched. The company presently offers subtitled episodes of the Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora and Shinigami no Ballad anime television series for a small rental fee to viewers in Australia & New Zealand. Subtitled episodes of the Keitai Shoujo web anime will be available for rental to viewers in North America, Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and the UK beginning December 3rd.
Videos are offered in high quality Flash format, compatible with multiple computer platforms. Payments are currently processed through PayPal.
Source: Anime News Network
ActiveAnime now hosts an interview with Gonzo Digimation Holdings president Arthur Smith in which Smith emphasizes that unauthorized, illegal anime distribution is seriously harming the international anime production and distribution industry.
Question:
Maetel from Galaxy Express 999 seems to have recognition that transcends the Leijiverse. Not only is she the prominent focus of most GE999 media cover art, but I’ve also seen homages to her in other anime like Sexy Commando and Lucky Star, on numerous occassions seen othewise “normal” Japanese businessmen bellow out the GE999 movie ending theme song (accompanied by video footage of Maetel) at karaoke booths and karaoke hostess bars, and I’ve even seen posters for non-anime/manga related events use her image for advertising. What gives Maetel the staying power of nearly three decades?
Japanese publisher’s FB Online website has formally announced plans for an anime adaptation of the Kyoran Kazoku Nikki (”Frenzied Family Journal”) sci-fi comedy light novel series written by Akira and illustrated by x6suke (”pekeRokusuke”). The series will premier next year.
Source: Anime News Network
PC game developer BaseSon has announced that the Harukoi Otome ~En de Gokigenyou~ (”Sample CG” section of the website contains one image depicting nudity) adult PC game will receive an anime OVA. Whether the anime will be adults-only or not has not been clarified.
Source: Moon Phase
Anime News Network now hosts a short interview with manga artist and character designer Takehiko Inoue, conducted at the unveiling of Inoue’s original wall mural at the Books Kinokuniya store in New York City.
