FUNimation has wrapped up its 2008 “New Show A-Go-Go!!” acquisition announcement with word that Samurai Champloo will be re-released as a DVD boxed set in 2009. Geneon initially released the series in America in 2005. Like FUNimation’s acquisition of distribution rights to Gungrave, the acquisition of Samurai Champloo is part of FUNimation’s deal to acquire and distribute Geneon catalog titles first announced last summer.
Game developer Hudson Soft (Bomberman, Kita e) and animation studio Fanworks (Hanoka) have formally launched their Decodeco Town multimedia franchise with a website, online anime, online manga, a blog, cel phone ringtones, and more. The series about living matryoshka or Babushka Russian nested dolls is targeted at Japanese women in their 20s and 30s.
Source: Anime News Network
The official homepage of the Chocolate Underground web anime series from earlier this year now hosts a streaming trailer for next year’s Chocolate Underground movie. The feature film, scheduled to open on January 31, will add 20 minutes of new animation to the existing footage.
Source: Anime News Network
Question:
What have the best anime of the year been? What were the worst anime of the year?
A variety of trailers for upcoming anime productions recorded at the recent 75th bi-annual Comic Market convention have turned up on YouTube, including:
Asu no Yoichi
Hatsukoi Limited
Higurashi no Nakukoro ni Rei OVA series
K-On!
Koihime Musou OVA
Pandora Hearts
Phantom -Requiem for the Phantom-
Saki
Taisho Yakyu Musume
Tears to Tiara
Umineko no Nakukoro ni
Yokuwakaru Gendai Mahou
Crunchyroll has formally announced plans to begin online broadcast of the Eyeshield 21 anime series on January 2, 2009. The first eight episodes will be available for ad-supported free streaming to all users. Crunchyroll subscribers will have access to higher quality ad-free episodes.
Joost now officially hosts the final episode of the first Naruto television series, subtitled and uncut. In episode 220, Gaara transforms into Shukaku the sand spirit and wins an impressive victory. After the battle, some discover new paths to follow, and Naruto decides to become even stronger by going on a training journey with Jiraiya.
FUNimation has formally announced its sixth Geneon “license rescue,” the 2003 Gungrave television series. Unlike this week’s previous former Geneon catalog acquisitions that have been re-licensed through their original production studios, Gungrave is the latest addition to the list of Geneon titles transferred to FUNimation that was first announced publicly last summer. The complete 26 episode Gungrave series will be re-released in 2009.
FUNimation spokesman Lance Heiskell notes that according to Nielsen VideoScan sales, Gungrave is one of America’s top 25 selling anime series on DVD.
“New” license announcements are always positive, but it’s a bit disappointing that the majority of FUNimation’s new announcements have been neither new nor especially exciting. However, FUNimation is already hinting that additional license announcements are in the wings.
ICv2 has revealed its rankings of the top 10 most popular anime and top 25 manga titles in America during September, October, and early November 2008. The ICv2 rankings are based on sales volume, as determined by interviews with retailers, distributors, and manufacturers.
A new Japanese print advertisement has revealed that the recently announced anime adaptation of saxyun’s slice-of-life comedy manga Yurumeitsu will be an OVA released next spring.
Source: Anime News Network
In March 2007, singer Noriyuki Makihara filed a lawsuit against manga creator Leiji Matsumoto after Matsumoto publicly accused him of plagiarism. Volume 21 of Matsumoto’s Galaxy Express 999 manga contains the lines, “Jikan wa yume wo uragiranai. Yume mo jikan wo kesshite uragiranai.” The 2006 song “Yakusoku no Basho” written by Noriyuki and performed by his pop music group Chemistry includes the lines, “Yume wa jikan wo uragiranai / Jikan mo yume wo kesshite uragiranai.” Both phrases mean “My dream does not betray time, nor does time betray my dream,” but the phrasing is slightly different in the two instances.
Matsumoto, who frequently used the phrase in public speaking appearances, publicly demanded an apology from Makihara. Makihara denied any plagiarism and filed suit, seeking 22 million yen for damage to his reputation. Although the case never went to court, last Friday a judge ruled that, “the two quotes were sufficiently different in meaning” and ordered Matsumoto to pay Makihara 2.2 million yen in damages.
Source: Tokyograph
The Los Angeles Times reports that Palm Harbor, Florida, based Distribution Video Audio Inc. has delivered its final shipment of retail movies on VHS, signifying the end of major American commercial home video distribution on the VHS format.
Source: Ain’t It Cool News
The official website for director Shinpei Hayashiya’s low budget giant monster movie Deep Sea Monster Raiga (Shinkaiju Raiga) now includes a minute long trailer. The movie is scheduled for Japanese release next summer. We ♥ Kaijyu indeed!
Source: Twitch
Question:
Any chance Manyuu Hikencho might be the next samurai manga to go big in the U.S. a’la Rurouni Kenshin?
Crunchyroll has announced plans to begin digital distribution of illustrator Naoto Iwakiri’s 28 minute long anime short Kaede Newtown and director Kengo Takeuchi’s 34 minute long full CG anime short movie Yonna in the Solitary Fortress.
The nostalgic romantic comedy Kaede Newtown will be available for free online viewing & download-to-own for $2.99 beginning today.
Yonna in the Solitary Fortress will be available for free online viewing & download-to-own for $2.99 beginning in January 2009.
