The official website for Madhouse’s feature film Hells Angels now hosts a streaming trailer. The horror/adventure/comedy film adaptation of Sin-Ichi Hiromoto’s manga had its world premiere at last month’s Tokyo International Film Festival. The film is scheduled to begin limited Japanese theatrical screenings on February 14, 2009.
Why hasn’t this great manga reached America yet?
Source: Anime News Network
In recognition of the growing international recognition of anime, Japan’s annual Seiyu Awards will begin accepting votes from voters outside of Japan. The Seiyu (voice actor) Awards began in 2007 to annually recognize outstanding Japanese voice actors, actresses, anime theme song vocalists, and individuals involved in the voice acting profession. From Saturday, November 29, 2008 through January 1, 2009, the Seiyu Awards homepage will offer an English language page allowing foreign voters to submit their picks for best vocalists and roles. The winners of the 3rd Annual Seiyu Awards will be announced on March 7, 2009.
Source: Anime News Network
Takara Tomy has launched a website for its new family sized Giga Pudding desert. The site features downloadable wallpaper and a lengthy trailer, complete with its own theme song. Find the trailer by clicking on the button second from the right at the bottom of the page. Then select the top left button.
Anyone what watches a lot of anime knows that Japan loves its pudding.
Viz Media’s official Naruto homepage now hosts a streaming trailer for next year’s online release of subtitled Naruto Shippuden episodes. While Naruto Shippuden episodes have only been announced for online release with Japanese dialogue and English subtitles, so far, this trailer appears to include English dubbed dialogue.
Source: Neb’s Blog
American comic and manga publishing company Udon Entertainment has formally announced the development of a publishing label named Manga For Kids. As its name suggests, the label will concentrate on publishing English translated manga for juvenile male and female readers.
The initial four Manga For Kids titles are:
The Big Adventures of Majoko, by Tomomi Mizuna
Ninja Baseball Kyuma!, by Shunshin Maeda
Fairy Idol Kanon, by Mera Hakamada
Swans in Space, by Yamamoto Lunlun
Big Adventures of Majoko and Ninja Baseball Kyuma! will debut in April 2009. Fairy Idol Kanon will launch in May. Swans in Space will premiere in June.
Viz Media similarly has a successful line of “Viz Kids” manga and DVD releases. Urban Vision unsuccessfully tried to launch a “Lil’ Vision” line of anime for children in 2002.
Source: Anime News Network
Comic book publishing studio eigoMANGA has announced plans to deliver Original English-language (OEL) manga through multimedia hosting site Crunchyroll. eigoMANGA’s Rumble Pak will showcase original international manga style comics for male readers while the Sakura Pakk will cater to female readers.
Reportedly this year’s 23rd issue of Young Animal Magazine, scheduled for Japanese release on Friday, will include a formal announcement of the Fuji TV network’s 15th “Noitamina†series. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Seirei no Moribito director Kenji Kamiyama will direct Eden of the East (Higashi no Eden). Honey & Clover creator Chika Umino will provide character designs. The series will premier in April, taking over the time slot of the Genji Monogatari Sennenki series.
Source: Anime News Network
The official website for next spring’s Tears to Tiara television series is now open. The adaptation of Leaf’s 2005 fantasy PC game will be animated by studio White Fox, which has previously worked on anime including Tetsuwan Birdy Decode, Hidamari Sketch x365, and Night Wizard.
Comic Gum Magazine has released the first two key visual images for the upcoming Fight Ippatsu! Jyuuden-chan!! television series, based on the comedy manga by Bow Ditama.
Source: Moon Phase Diary
The official Maria-sama ga Miteru homepage has announced that 10 Japanese movie theaters will screen the first episode of the franchise’s fourth series debut episode this January during a Maria-sama ga Miteru Omisoka Special Event (Maria Watches Over Us New Year’s Eve Special Event). The screening will also feature a “Maria-sama ga Miteru Special Digest,” summarizing the events of the previous two television series and OVA series, screened in digital 3D.
Should be really fascinating to see what traditional 2D anime looks like when it’s remastered for digital 3D.
Source: Anime News Network
GhibliWorld has learned that the English language version of Studio Ghibli’s current blockbuster anime film Ponyo on the Cliff By the Sea will feature Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin, Betty White, Fankie Jonas, Noah Cyrys and Cloris Leachman. Reportedly test screenings are currently being held with a nationwide American theatrical release planned for next year.
Japanese multimedia website Jan Jan now hosts a video excerpt from last week’s press interview with acclaimed anime film director Hayao Miyazaki. The 8:33 exerpt of the 90 minute interview includes an English translation of Miyazaki’s statements through a translator.
Source: Nausicaa.net
Question:
I can’t help noticing that Shuffle’s Primula bears a rather close resemblance (at least facial) to Martian Successor Nadesico’s Ruri Hoshino. Might this be a rare case of “homage” that, on another occasion, would have been called out as a case of plagiarism? Or is it that some character designs might be so endearing that they re-appear even years after their first appearance? And are you aware whether this has happened elsewhere in anime?
A two minute long trailer for ZEXCS’ upcoming Chrome Shelled Regios (Koukaku no Legios) TV series is now available on YouTube. (The linked trailer does not require registration to view.) The sci-fi/fantasy action series based on Shusuke Amagi and Miyuu’s popular series of light novels is scheduled to premiere on Japan’s TV Kanagawa network on January 10th.
Source: Anime News Network
