AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Reportedly the February issue of Takeshobo’s Monthly Manga Club magazine, which goes on sale tomorrow, will formally announce the development of an anime adaptation of Yurumeitsu, the 2005 “4-koma” comedy manga series by “saxyun.” Yurumeitsu is the story of Yurume, an 18-year-old ronin (high school graduate that hasn’t passed college entrance exams yet) who moves into an apartment habitated by aimless “ronin” who have been out of school for years.

Source: Anime News Network

Toei Animation has launched its official website for next year’s Fresh Precure television series. The sixth series in the Pretty Cure franchise is scheduled to premiere on February 1st. Likewise, broadcaster TV Asahi has also opened its Fresh Precure homepage.

The new series will star Momozono Rabu/Cure Peach, Aono Miki/Cure Berry, and Yamabuki Inori/Cure Pine (as in pineapple). This sixth series in the Pretty Cure franchise is scheduled to premiere on February 1st.

This may take some getting used to. This new cast looks a bit older than any of the previous Pretty Cure girls.

Source: Rakugakidou & Moon Phase Diary

Crunchyroll has announced plans for online distribution of the Tower of Druaga: The Sword of Uruk television series, the sequel to the 2008 Tower of Druaga: The Aegis of Uruk television series. The first episode will be available on the Crunchyroll website January 8, 2009.

Retired Japanese celebrity Ai Iijima (real name Matsue Okubo) was found dead in her apartment on Sunday afternoon. Reportedly Iijima had already been dead for several days when her body was found. The exact time and cause of her death are currently unknown.

Iijima launched her career as an adult video actress in 1992. She left the adult film industry in 1993, successfully transitioning into mainstream acting and singing, and later writing. Iijima co-created the three-volume Time Traveler Ai manga series with artist Takeshi Takebayashi in 2000. The manga about a fictional version of Ai Iijima having adventures through time travel was licensed and published in English by Central Park Media in 1999. Iijima retired from the entertainment industry in March 2007, but continued to remain in public awareness through her popular blog, which was updated as recently as earlier this month.

Source: Tokyograph & Anime News Network

Eiga.com reports that director Mamoru Oshii and star Kikuchi Rinko are eager to film a feature length movie version of Oshii’s “Assault Girl” short film series about a mysterious female swordsman. The first “Assault Girl” short appeared as part of Oshii’s 2007 anthology movie Shin Onna Tachiguishi-Retsuden. The second “Assault Girl” short was released as part of Oshii’s 2008 anthology film Kill. Reportedly Oshii expects to determine by early summer 2009 whether the development of a feature is possible.

Source: Jason Gray’s Blog

Question:
Are there any long running anime that don’t run out of steam during their entire series length?

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FUNimation has formally announced its third consecutive Geneon “license rescue,” the 2000 Vandread television series. Geneon began North American distribution of both seasons of Vandread in 2002. FUNimation has renewed the American distribution rights to the series directly from series’ producer Gonzo Digimation Holdings.

Crunchyroll has formally confirmed plans for digital distribution of the Gintama television series. The acquisition was first mentioned in a Japanese announcement last month. Crunchyroll has also now confirmed plans to digitally distribute “Web Ghost,” (Net Ghost Pipopa).

Crunchyroll has announced its acquisition of digital distribution rights to the 2005 and ongoing Detective Office 5 (Tantei Jimusho 5) live action mystery series. The first two episodes are available now.

The fantastic first theatrical trailer for director Shane Acker’s animated post-apocalyptic fantasy adventure film 9 is now online. The movie is scheduled for theatrical release on September 9, 2009.

Source: Ain’t It Cool News

Question:
Do you know the plan for Viz putting Naruto Shippuden online? Are they going to make any money by doing it, and are they done trying to put it on TV when 90% of Naruto fans is up to date with the Naruto Shippuden episodes in Japan?

What happens to Viz once Naruto finally ends? What is their future shonen series to gain more sales than Naruto?

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FUNimation has announced its acquisition of distribution rights to the Gad Guard anime television series. The 2003 series is the second former Geneon title that FUNimation has announced acquisition of this week.

Looks like Vandread, Soul Eater, X TV series or Last Exile (or both), Gankutsuou, and Oh! Edo Rocket are among the anticipated upcoming announcements. While it will be nice to see Gad Guard back in circulation, it’s still not an especially exciting announcement.

Eagle One Media has uploaded the first 4 minutes of its Street Fighter: Round One – FIGHT! animated comic to YouTube. The 70 minute long production adds spoken dialogue, background music, sound effects, and limited animation to Udon Studios’ original American Street Fighter comics.

The Street Fighter: Round One – FIGHT! DVD will retail at $19.99 when it goes on sale February 3, 2009.

FUNimation has launched the beta version of its online video service, offering free access to hundreds of full length anime episodes both subtitled and dubbed, including the American premieres of Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino, Shigurui: Death Frenzy, STRAIN: Strategic Armored Infantry, and Romeo X Juliet. The site also hosts trailers, exclusive interviews, podcasts and other FUNimation original productions. The site will launch in its finalized form next spring.

FUNimation has formally announced its acquisition of distribution rights to the first Ikki Tousen anime television series, which was previously distributed in America by Geneon. FUNimation acquired the broadcast, digital, merchandise and home entertainment rights to the series for the US and Canada from licensing agent Enoki Films. The series is the first of ten new licenses FUNimation will announce throughout the remainder of 2008.

Media Blasters holds the domestic distribution rights to the second Ikki Tousen television series, Ikki Tousen: Dragon Destiny. The third series, Ikki Tousen: Great Guardians, has not been formally confirmed for official domestic release.

If this is FUNi’s first of ten new license announcements, let’s all hope that this isn’t a portent of what’s to come.