The official website for CoMix Wave Films and director Tact Aoki’s upcoming anime film The Asylum Session now hosts the trailer first released at last month’s Tokyo International Anime Fair. The hour long full CG anime movie is scheduled for theatrical release at one theater in Osaka in June, and one theater in Tokyo in July.
Source: Saishin Anime Jouhouk
The Japanese Gurren Lagann homepage now hosts a 30 second streaming video ad for the upcoming Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: Kirameki Yoko Box ~ Pieces of sweet stars~ CD. The CD, performed by Gurren Lagann character Yoko (voice actress Marina Inoue), will be released on May 27 in a limited edition that includes an original anime music video DVD and a 130+ page supplemental book.
This is definitely new continuity because I can’t envision the Yoko of Gurren Lagann continuity singing such a happy and carefree song like “S.t.a.r.S.”
Source: Anime News Network
The freshly published May issue of Newtype Magazine has announced that the Miracle Train multimedia franchise will be getting an anime production. The anthropomorphization of select stations on Tokyo’s Chuo commuter train line as handsome young men launched as a web manga and novel last month.
The anime will be produced by Yumeta Company, which has plenty of prior experience in animating bishonen, having produced the Harukanaru Toki no Naka de and Neo Angelique Abyss anime.
Source: Anime News Network
After first debuting as a promotional video in 2007, creator Takehito Koyasu’s Velvet Underground music & anime project is now scheduled to be released on May 28th as a series of four “music clip animation” DVDs titled “Velvet Underworld: Fragment Person.”
Takehito Koyasu is best known as a voice actor whose roles include Ilpalazzo in Excel Saga and Rezo in Slayers.
Source: Saishin Anime Jouhouk
Crunchyroll will begin online English subtitled distribution of the new Ristorante Paradiso anime television series today, within hours of its Japanese television broadcast. The first episode of the two-episode premiere will be accessible for free to all Crunchyroll website visitors. The second episode will initially be available only to paid subscribers.
Source: Anime News Network
Mandalay Pictures (Donnie Brasco, Sleepy Hollow) has acquired the rights to develop an American live action feature film based on writer Shoji Gatoh and illustrator Shikidouji’s Full Metal Panic novel series. The popular franchise has spawned manga and TV anime adaptations and become a popular franchise among American fans.
The Hollywood Reporter states that actor Zac Efron (High School Musical, Hairspray) is in negotiations to play the protagonist role.
It’s not difficult to imagine an American “re-imagining” of FMP that drops the robots and keeps only the concept of a teen mercenary trying to blend in to civilian school life in order to protect a female classmate.
Funimation has announced that its anime exclusive television network, The FUNimation Channel, will begin broadcasting five anime series licensed by Viz Media. Buso Renkin, Honey and Clover, Hunter X Hunter, Monster, and NANA will premiere on the network later this spring into this summer. Honey and Clover, Monster, and NANA have never been previously distributed in America.
Source: Anime News Network
The advertising “obi” found on new copies of the fifth volume of Matra Milan’s ecchi romantic comedy manga series Omamori Himari announces that the series will be adapted into an anime television series. The 2006 and ongoing manga series is the story of a high school boy that’s protected by a sword-wielding cat girl spirit.
Source: Anime News Network
The official website for the upcoming Hatsukoi Limited (Hatsukoi Gentei) television series, based on the manga by Mizuki Kawashita, now includes a new streaming teaser trailer. The television series is scheduled to premiere on the 11th.
Source: Anime News Network
The Moon Phase Diary reports that production of a new Hidamari Sketch anime was announced at this past weekend’s Cho Hidematsuri Z publicity event. The first anime TV series adaptation of Ume Aoki’s Hidamari Sketch manga premiered in 2007. The most recent new Hidamari Sketch anime was released just last month.
Source: Anime News Network
The official Japanese website commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Naruto manga has announced the title and release date of the sixth Naruto motion picture. Naruto Shippuden: Hi no Ishi wo Tsugumono (Naruto Hurricane Chronicles: The Will of Fire Still Burns), the third Naruto Shippuden movie, will open theatrically on August 1st.
The site features the streaming teaser trailer first released online last December.
Source: Anime News Network
FUNimation has formally announced its acquisition of digital, broadcast, DVD and merchandising rights to the new Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood television series, the sequel to the popular 2003 TV, movie, and OVA franchise. Starting Thursday, April 9, weekly episodes will streamed free, with English subtitles, on a variety of video-sharing websites including FUNimation.com.
FUNimation has announced a distribution partnership with Toei Animation to distribute seven complete Toei produced anime television series on the FUNimation.com website. The complete Fist of the North Star series will premiere online this week. Slam Dunk, Digimon Adventure 02, Captain Harlock, Galaxy Express 999, Pretty Cure, and Air Master will be added to the site, one title per week.
Select episodes of all seven titles have previously been released in America, although Air Master is currently the only one of the seven titles not presently available through official American digital distribution.
