AnimeNation Anime News Blog

UC Irvine Extension, the continuing education arm of the University of California, Irvine, has announced plans to offer a new, third course in its “Manga & Anime Explosion: What, Why, How & Wow!” series. The course is designed to give both those pursuing a career in the high-growth entertainment field and enthusiasts alike a better understanding of the creative and business processes involved in bringing the Japanese art-form successfully to the masses in the United States.

The class will be held on five consecutive Tuesdays, beginning January 22 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the UC Irvine Campus. For more information visit unex.uci.edi or to enroll call (949) 824-5414.

Yahoo Japan News reports that the Private Music and Video Recording subcommittee of Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs held a meeting on December 18 to discuss plans to revise Japanese copyright law to outlaw the act of downloading illegally distributed copyrighted material. Under current Japanese copyright law, uploading copyrighted material to the internet without authorization is illegal, but downloading content illegally distributed online is legal provided that the download is for personal, non-commercial use. Downloading illegally distributed copyrighted material has been illegal in America since the implementation of 1997’s No Electronic Theft (NET) Act.

After issuing a request for public comments, the subcommittee received an unprecedented 7,500 responses. Reportedly, the vast majority of Japanese public response to the proposed law opposes making downloading copyrighted material illegal.

Source: Anime News Network

Question:
Do the Japanese feel that anime is a superior animation, much like most American and international anime/manga fans do?

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The Anime Network has officially launched its web counterpart. The Anime Network Online offers up to 20 full length anime episodes for free online viewing. The Anime Network Online’s “First Look” feature currently offers the first episode of the 2007 anime series Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann in original Japanese language with English subtitles. The first 3 episodes of the 27 episode Gurren Lagann TV series will be released online for free viewing while the first domestic Gurren Lagann DVD is scheduled for release on February 26th, 2008.

Article revised December 26, 2007

The Japanese Moon Phase message board reports an unconfirmed and uncited announcement that author Kagami Takaya and illustrator Toyota Saori’s long running fantasy novel series “Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu” (Legend of the Legendary Hero”) will be adapted into anime. The report claims that an official confirmation of the anime will be published in the March 2008 issue of Dragon Magazine.

The official Japanese website for the upcoming Yatterman anime series, a revival of the original 1977 television series, has been extensively redesigned in anticipation of the series’ January 14, 2008 premier. The site features a gallery of streaming trailers.

Source: Moon Phase

Variety Magazine reports that Crystal Sky Pictures has hired Dwight Little to helm an American feature film adaptation of Namco’s popular Tekken fighting game franchise. Crystal Sky Pictures produced the Nicholas Cage Ghost Rider picture. Little’s previous martial arts films are Brandon Lee’s Rapid Fire, and Steven Seagal’s Marked For Death. Reportedly the upcoming American Tekken film will be a sci-fi martial arts picture. The movie is scheduled to begin filming in Shreveport, Louisiana on February 4th.

An earlier American Tekken motion picture to be directed by Charles Stone III was announced in 2004 but never produced.

Question:
There are many anime genres that don’t sell well or are not popular in America. They include harem, magical girl, mecha, and slice-of-life, among others. Do you think anything could be done to make them more appealing or increase consumers’ interest in them, ultimately making more sales and profit for licensors and distributors? Would editing of such genre titles to make them suitable for mainstream TV broadcast? Many old school anime titles that were heavily edited for TV broadcast - such as Sailor Moon, Robotech, Teknoman, Gatchman, and Speed Racer - fall into genres that don’t sell well today, yet they remain cult favorites.

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IGN now hosts a new, second English language trailer for the Appleseed: Ex Machina motion picture. The film is scheduled for American home video release on March 11, 2008.

Source: Anime News Network

Japanese anime magazine Newtype now hosts a streaming trailer for the upcoming anime television series H2O ~Footprints in the Sand~. The series is scheduled to premier on January 3, 2008.

Source: Moon Phase

Nominees for the 31st annual Japan Academy Prize awards were announced yesterday. The five anime films nominated for recognition as 2007 best anime feature are:

Evangelion Shin Gekijouban: Jou
Kappa no Coo to Natsuyasumi
Tekkon Kinkreet
Piano no Mori
Meitantei Conan: Konpeki no Jolly Roger

On a related note, Eiji Wentz is nominated for recognition as “Rookie of the Year” for his role as Kitaro in the 2007 live action Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro movie adaptation of Mizuki Shigeru’s manga.

Winners will be announced on February 15, 2008.

Source: Tokyograph

FUNimation has issued a recall to retailers for the recently released Itsudatte My Santa! DVD. The DVD was issued with a “TV-PG” (parental guidance suggested) rating printed on its cover, which should have been “TV-MA” (for mature audiences). As is the case with most of America’s anime industry, FUNimation selects its own viewer suitability ratings for the majority of its DVD releases.

FUNimation states, “Funimation adds, “Although, we have not received any complaints from consumers, as a responsible entertainment provider we felt we needed to alert our fans and their parents so they can make an educated buying decision.” The company plans to re-release the title for the 2008 holiday season.

Consumers that already own copies of the DVD are not affected by the recall notice.

Source: Anime News Network

Question:
What is the reason behind the large popularity of anime characters who are just emotionless jerks? As basic examples, Sesshomaru from Inuyasha, Itachi of Naruto, and Bleach’s Byakuya are all cold hearted characters with no personality other then the motives to their actions, that are some of the most popular of their series. They have neither the charm or wit to their personality that make such kind of characters likeable or even acceptable. They commit actions that are truly reprehensible in cruelty and malice and do nothing to redeem themselves and do not care if they do. So why are characters like these so popular in anime when there seems to be nothing in their character to make them likeable?

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Japanese manga publisher Ohzora’s American branch, Aurora Publishing, has announced plans for English language releases of a half dozen new manga titles.

The “Luv Luv” line of “josei” (manga for young adult women) manga will publish:

Sounds of Love (Lovers’ Concerto), by Rin Tanaka
Make Love & Peace (Love ni Peace), by Yonetani Takane
Pretty Poison (Dokuyaku to Otome), by Yutta Narukami

Reportedly Aurora will also publish:

The Comedy Team (The Manzai Comics), by Atsuko Asano and Hizuru Imai
Small Miracle Company (Benri-ya Kagyo), by Miyako Takano
Angel Heart (Shokugyo Tenshi), by Toko Fujikawa

Source: Anime News Network

Japanese anime store chain Animate has revealed news that a third Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni anime television series is now planned for production. No further details are available yet.

Source: Anime News Network