Fremont, California based publisher Yaoi Generation has formally announced its first title, Chifumi Ochi’s five volume series breath. The first volume will be released in December.
Source: Kuriousity
During this past weekend’s New York Anime Festival, Yen Press announced its acquisition of five new titles:
The Jyushin Enbu ~ Hero Tales fantasy adventure manga series by Hiromu Arakawa, which was developed to coincide with the fall 2007 anime television series.
The two volume Welcome to Wakaba-soh school romance comedy manga by Chako Abeno
The Wolf & Spice novel series by Isuna Hasekura and Ju Ayakura, which was adapted into an anime television series earlier this year
The Sugarholic manhwa by GooGoo Gong
The 13th Boy manhwa by Sang-Eun Lee
Source: Anime News Network
During its Level5 Vision 2008 publicity event this past weekend, Japanese video game developer Level5 announced that its “Professor Layton” series of Nintendo DS puzzle games will be adapted into an anime feature film. Level5 reportedly announced development of a live action “Professor Layton” motion picture during its 2007 promotional event.
The third “Professor Layton” game, “Layton-kyoju to Saigo no Jikanryoko” (“Professor Layton & the Final Time Travel”) will premier in Japan on November 27. The first game “Professor Layton and the Curious Village,” made its North American premier earlier this year.
Source: Anime News Network
The official website for developer Platinum Games’ upcoming Nintendo DS space opera RPG Mugen Koro ~ Infinite Space has announced that anime studios Gonzo and Production I.G will produce a series of short anime films that promote the game and expand the game’s concept and story. The first short film will premier at the Tokyo Game Show on October 9 prior to appearing on the game’s official website on October 17. The Mugen Koro ~ Infinite Space game is due out early next year.
Source: Anime News Network
Anime production studios Radix and mob Animation have reportedly filed suit against film production investment company Micott & Basara alleging that Micott & Basara ordered a stop to development of the proposed Appleseed: Genesis anime television series without explanation on March 12, and never paid either production studio for work done on the project.
As recently as last March progress on the Appleseed: Genesis project was announced to the public, including confirmation of the involvement of Romanov Higa as director, Haruhiko Mikimoto as character designer, and voice actress Romi Paku to play protagonist Deunan Knute.
Source: Anime News Network
The recently aired 25th and final episode of the Macross Frontier television series concluded with an announcement of development of a Macross Frontier motion picture. Presumably the film will be a condensed and re-edited version of the TV series.
Source: Anime News Network
Canadian animation studio Nelvana Enterprises and toy company Spin Master Ltd., and Japan’s Sega Toys Ltd. and TMS Entertainment have announced plans to jointly develop a second “Bakugan” animated series continuing the story from the 2007 Bakugan Battle Brawlers anime. The 26 episode “Bakugan: New Vestroia,” series will be animated by Tokyo based TMS for a North America debut next spring. No word of a Japanese broadcast has surfaced yet.
While the Bakugan Battle Brawlers series was evidently not tremendously successful in Japan, the series has become one of North America’s most popular new franchises among young boys.
Source: Animation Magazine
Media Blasters has announced that the release of its the sixth and seventh Voltron DVD collections have been delayed. Voltron: Defender of the Universe Collection 6, originally scheduled for release on September 30th, will be released on December 23rd. The seventh set will be released in 2009.
Source: ICv2
Famitsu Magazine reports that Studio Ghibli will produce animation footage for game developer Level5′s tenth anniversary project, a Nintendo DS fantasy RPG titled “Ni no Kuni: The Another World.” Previous Level5 developed games have included Dragon Quest VIII & Rogue Galaxy. Studio Ghibli has never previously worked on a video game, although Kiki’s Delivery Service and I Can Hear the Sea character designer Katsuya Kondo did co-create the 1998 Playstation RPG Tamamayu Monogatari and two console video games based on Studio Ghibli’s 1984 motion picture Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind were released for early NEC computers.
Ni no Kuni, a fantasy story about a 13 year old boy transported to a magical world, will include a printed “Magic Master” book of spells that players will periodically need to reference to advance in the game. The Nintendo DS version of the game will be released in late 2009. An alternate version of the game for an as-yet-undecided home console is also planned.
Source: Gamekyo
Pop Japan Travel is now accepting reservations for participation in its Design Festa 2008 Tour. The highlight of this guided tour of Tokyo includes attendence to the 28th annual Design Festa art exhibition. Additional tour highlights include visits to the Ghibli Museum, Sanrio Puroland, Akihabara and Nakano Broadway, and more. The Design Festa 2008 Tour is scheduled for November 5-12.
Question:
I know of some people who don’t care about the decline in domestically-released anime because “they can get it for free anyway.” I want to say that the decline in anime released here will have an impact on anime being made in Japan, but I’m not certain about that. Since anime in Japan is also experiencing a slight downturn recently, could some of this be due to fewer titles being licensed in other countries? Would further decline in the United States negatively affect the anime industry in Japan, or would it not make much of a difference?
This year’s winners of the prestigious Animation Kobe Awards have been announced.
Individual Award:
Mitsuo Iso (creator/director of Denno Coil)
Special Award:
Masaki Tsuji (writer for Jungle Emperor, Cutey Honey, Tiger Mask, Himitsu no Akko-chan, Hakaba Kitaro)
Theatrical Film Award:
Evangelion: 1.0 You Are [Not] Alone (produced by Khara)
Television Award:
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 (produced by Sunrise)
Network Award:
Hatsune Miku (produced by Crypton Future Media)
Theme Song Award:
“Triangler” (Macross Frontier opening theme) performed by Maaya Sakamoto
The judging committee for the Animation Kobe Awards is composed of industry experts including editors from animation and media magazines such as Animage, Animedia, Newtype, Comtiq, Weekly ASCII, and MdN. The formal award presentation ceremony will be held in Kobe, Japan on November 2.
Source: Anime News Network
Japanese popular entertainment magazine Oricon has published the results of its survey that asked 300 teens aged 14-19 to name the most interesting manga they’d read. The results:
01. One Piece
02. Slam Dunk
03. Dragon Ball / Death Note (tie)
05. Gintama
06. Love Com / Nodame Cantabile (tie)
08. Detective Conan
09. Hana Yori Dango / Fullmetal Alchemist (tie)
Source: Tokyograph
Question:
A few weeks ago Adult Swim pushed Code Geass and Moribito to the 5:00 and 5:30 slots and Toonami has ended their run. Why is Cartoon Network airing less anime?
What is the future of anime on TV, since Adult Swim is moving anime to dead hours, Fuse is dropping its block, and Sci-fi is moving anime to one night only from which it was originally launched both Monday & Tuesday?
