AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Question:
With Capcom releasing Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars on the Wii internationally later this year, could we possibly see a new interest in Tatsunoko properties over here? Could it give a show like Casshern SINS a better chance at getting licensed? Could a company like ADV or Media Blasters possibly license rescue the Casshern, Polymar, and Gatchaman OVAs from that 90s that we received from ADV and Urban Vision, respectively, to help introduce people to these characters without having to go to the original 70s shows? In fact, the Polymar OVA was never even released on DVD over here, though it was dubbed. Finally, should anime companies even take advantage of this new focus Tatsunoko is getting from the game and license titles from the company now or after the game is released, i.e. have the titles out pre-emptively for those who might get interested after playing the game or wait until overall reactions are made?

(more…)

Japanese video hosting site Nico Nico Douga has officially announced plans to stream an anime adaptation of Ontama, based on the manga by Noboru “Hurricanes” Maeda and Dan Yoshii. Comedian and anime voice actor “Hurricanes” Maeda composed the Ontama story about a fourth-grade girl who travels back in time in an attempt to prevent her parents from divorcing. The anime will premiere online later this summer.

Source: Moon Phase

This week’s final episode of the Asura Cryin’ television series concludes with an announcement that the series will be continued this fall in the Asura Cryin’ 2 television series.

Source: Anime News Network

The homepage for the Queen’s Blade anime TV series has announced that the show’s second season will premiere in October.

Source: Moon Phase

The official homepage for the Basquash! TV anime has released a formal statement confirming a change in series’ supervising director. The message doesn’t appear to specifically mention original series director Shin Itagaki by name, though. Anyone with a better grasp of written Japanese than me willing to summarize the full statement?

Reportedly at least chief animator Katsuzo Hirata and series director Shin Itagaki were taken off their work on the current Basquash anime last month.

Source: Moon Phase Diary

Reportedly this week’s new issue of Comp Ace Magazine will formally announce the development of an anime TV series adaptation of the 11eyes -Tsumi to Batsu to Aganai no Shoujo- (contains adult images) adult PC game from developer Lass. The fantasy adventure revolves around seven teen classmates transported to another world of fantasy and magic where they must defeat six black knights in order to return home.

Source: Anime News Network

Japanese publisher Kadokawa and film studio Shochiku have announced that Macross Frontier the Movie: The False Songstress (Gekijo-ban Macross Frontier ~Itsuwari no Utahime~) will open theatrically on November 21. The first teaser trailer for the movie remake of the 2008 television series will hit Japanese theaters on the 27th.

Source: Anime News Network

Akibanana now hosts an exclusive interview with creator Mamoru Oshii regarding Production I.G’s latest feature film Musashi: Dream of the Last Samurai. Oshii developed the concept of the anime documentary about Miyamoto Musashi and composed the film’s screenplay.

Anime Vice has secured a short but thorough interview with Peter Craig, the screenwriter for 20th Century Fox’s planned live action Cowboy Bebop movie.

Question:
Why isn’t there some sort of Dirty Pair anime revival in Japan? They got sequels and spin-offs of a lot of old shows including some obscure Go Nagai mech anime from I.G and even Casshan in spite of the live action movie bombing. They even brought back Bubblegum Crisis in spite of Crash, and managed to make Gegege no Kitaro a viable property again. And Miike’s live action take on Yatterman ended up being a bigger hit in Japan than James Wong’s take on Dragon Ball. But it seems like the adaptations for Dirty Pair died with ‘Flash.

So is the proliferation of moe to blame, since a pair of heroines of legal age can’t compete? Or has darker shonen and seinen anime and like Trigun and Hellsing cornered the whole “shooter” market so there’s no room for more light-hearted fare like Dirty Pair? Or is there a possibility that Takachino himself isn’t interested, since he’d have to be forced into allowing his female characters to dress and act sluttier to compete with the likes of Tenjho Tenge and Ikki-tousen?
(more…)

Apple now hosts the first official trailer for Disney’s domestic theatrical release of Ponyo, Studio Ghibli’s 2008 film Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea. Frank Marshall, producer on the English dubbed version of the film, has confirmed for Sci Fi Wire that the English adaptation was “tweaked” for American audiences with the blessing and consultation of director Hayao Miyazaki and original producer Toshio Suzuki. A literally translated subtitled edition of the film will be released on American DVD. Ponyo will hit American theaters on August 14.

To be fair, I have to admit that Liam Neeson’s voice does fit Ponyo’s father, Fujimoto. But even this short trailer reveals major alterations from the original Japanese script. In fact, the US trailer suggests that Fujimoto’s attitude has been given a complete 180° turnaround. Lisa’s personality also seems altered, but she doesn’t have enough dialogue in the trailer to confirm the change.

Source: Affenheimtheater & Anime News Network

The official homepage for next month’s Aoi Hana television anime has added a 15 second TV commercial, 115 second promotional spot, and a 38 second “behind the scenes” video. The adaptation of Takako Shimura’s yuri manga will premiere at 2 AM on July 1 on the Fuji TV network.

Nothing about these trailers stands out as especially impressive, but considering that this is a J.C. Staff production directed by Honey & Clover director Kenichi Kasai, I’m expecting this to be a solid, praiseworthy effort at the minimum.

Source: Anime News Network

The official homepage for the paired XXXHOLiC Shunmuki & Tsubasa Shunraiki anime has announced that the 16th collected volume of CLAMP’s XXXHOLiC manga will be released in a limited edition that includes a new XXXHOLiC anime from Production I.G. Evidently the OAD will be a new story, not a third episode of the Shunmuki series.

Source: Anime News Network

Question:
I saw this comment, “Too bad they can’t remake Nadia like the Eva movies, with top notch art and updated designs. That would be cool,” and wondered what you thought.

(more…)

Media Factory has released the first trailer for the upcoming Sacred Blacksmith anime television series. The trailer reveals that the adaptation of Miura Isao’s “Seiken no Blacksmith” fantasy novel series will be produced by Manglobe (Samurai Champloo, Ergo Proxy).

Source: Comic Alive