AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Italian licensor AnimeFun has revealed its recent acquisition of translation and distribution rights to all five seasons of the Sailor Moon TV anime. The show will reportedly air on the HIRO network beginning in January. This does mean that Toei Animation is obviously willing to allow international distribution of Sailor Moon anime. However, before we get too eager, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Toei is receptive to allowing redistrbution of Sailor Moon anime in North America.

Source: Moon Chase!

Article provided by Daniel Zelter

ZDNet reports that China Blue Hi-definition Disk (CBHD), the reincarnation of Toshiba’s ill-fated HD DVD technology, is gaining support quickly enough to surpass Blu-ray as the world’s leading high definition video format in just 12 months. CBHD players are outselling Blu-ray players in China 3-1. Blogger Robin Harris explains that the China is paying minimal technology royalties for its CBHD products, allowing their manufacture and sale at much lower costs than Blu-ray. Furthermore, since English is the #2 language in Asia, CBHD discs and players are poised to expand internationally, cutting deeply into the already marginal market Blu-ray has established.

Article provided by Daniel Zelter

Question:
This year is the 10th anniversary of Digimon Adventure, the first [show] of the Digimon anime franchise. So far we have subtitled streams of Digimon Adventure 02, and the televised English dub of Digimon Savers, Digimon: Data Squad, is being released on DVD boxsets. Also, Disney hasn’t aired any of the original 4 shows in years and Toei’s 02 streams seem to indicate that Disney no longer has those shows, Data Squad notwithstanding. Do you think that there’s any chance we’ll see DVD boxsets for the first 4 seasons of Digimon? There is a definite nostalgic feeling people have for the shows, partially due to them having excellent English dubs. And there is also a higher awareness of the original Japanese versions of the shows now. While asking for something like uncut Pokémon seems too impossible due to its continual child-aimed marketing, Digimon has definitely left its kid-focused origins here and seems to be more “anime” than it used to. Anyway, is there any chance we might see dub boxsets for those who want to relive their childhoods as well as sub-only sets for those who want to see what these shows were originally like?

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4Kids Entertainemnt has officially released uncut, subtitled Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Monsters episodes 13 & 14 on YouTube. These episodes have never been previously available uncut and subtitled in America. 4Kids released the series’ first dozen episodes uncut and subtitled on domestic DVD in 2004.

Source: Nebs Blog

In anticipation of the August 26th release of the Lupin the Third Dance & Drive official covers & remixes CD, Japanese-Canadian rock group Monkey Majik has released an original anime music video in which the band members encounter the Lupin III cast. The music video features Monkey Majik’s vocal interpretation of composer Yuji Ohno’s classic Lupin III theme.

The CD will contain 14 tracks by artists including PAX JAPONICA GROOVE, quasimode, Q;indivi, Fantastic Plastic Machine, COLDFEET, yuma, and i-dep. A limited edition release will include a DVD of the Monkey Majik music video. Castle of Cagliostro animation director Yasuo Otsuka provides the original jacket illustration.

Apart from an unusual looking Fujiko, this short is really nice.

Source: Anime News Network

The official homepage for the current Princess Lover television anime features a vague announcement about the premiere of a “Magical Knight Maria-chan” anime. The Ricotta homepage provides no additional clarification.

Maria Van Hossen appears briefly in Princess Lover episode one, and has a bigger role in episode 5, but hasn’t shown any signs of being a magical girl, yet.

Cracked Magazine has unleashed a facetious yet informative introduction to Japanese monsters, including traditional spooks, daikaiju, tokusatsu villains, collectible monsters, and injuh. It’s a lengthy and educational article, but it’s written with a satirical, lowbrow approach that sensitive readers may find offensive.

Digital media news site PaidContent.org reports that children’s entertainment media licensor/distributor 4Kids Entertainment is now in the early stages of negotiating a buy-out with potential new owners. 4Kids, the domestic master licensor of anime titles including Yu-Gi-Oh!, Shaman King, and Dinosaur King, hasn’t been profitable since 2006. 4Kids has neither confirmed nor denied the report, saying only, “We don’t comment on rumors or speculation.”

Source: Wall Street Pit

Brand new domestic cult film distributor Shinobi Splat! Entertainment has announced its first DVD/BD release, the 1987 low budget samurai action movie Ambush at Blood Trail Gate. Shinobi Splat! founder Jeff Stephens was able to obtain a print of the “lost” film from director Naohiro Takita, but while the music and effects tracks were recoverable, the original Japanese language dialogue was lost. So Shinobi Splat will release the film domestically with an original English dialogue track starring cult film icon Bruce Campbell.

The DVD will include remastered video, a Q & A with director Naohiro Takita and voice actor Bruce Campbell, and a documentary on the restoration of the film. The movie will go on sale October 13th at $24.95 MSRP for the DVD and $29.95 for Blu-ray.

Shinobi Splat! plans 8-10 specialty releases per year.

Amusing, if this is real. The Shinobi Splat website has no mention of this project, nor does Bruce Campbell’s official site. However, Bruce Campbell does lend his voice in the White on Rice movie that the Shinobi Splat website promotes.

Source: Twitch

Question:
Would you consider Berserk an epic manga now after chapters 300-306? And why isn’t Berserk brought up in terms of epic manga like Akira, Black Jack, etc.?

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Ain’t It Cool News has published its exclusive, personal interview with Hayao Miyazaki, conducted at the recent San Diego Comic Con.

Interesting to hear Miya-san explain where the name “Ponyo” came from.

Dark Horizons now hosts an exclusive interview with Astro Boy movie lead actors Freddie Highmore & Kristen Bell.

Article provided by Daniel Zelter

Dengeki Online has revealed that the upcoming short Yu-Gi-Oh 10th Special movie that will screen as part of this fall’s traveling Jump Super Anime Tour will star the protagonists of all three Yu-Gi-Oh anime series: Yuugi Mutou from Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, Judai Yuki from Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX, and Yusei Fudo of the current Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s. The short film will, obviously, commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Yu-Gi-Oh anime franchise.

The timing of this tenth anniversary movie is a little bit abstracted since the original 27 episode Yu-Gi-Oh anime premiered on April 4, 1998 while the first episode of the Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Monsters series that launched the successful, ongoing franchise premiered on April 18, 2000. This year’s Jump Festa Tour will make stops in five Japanese cities from October 12th through November 29th.

Source: Anime News Network

Three teaser trailers after the break:

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The two minute long anime trailer for Nitroplus’ 10th anniversary strategy adventure adult PC game Full Metal Daemon Muramasa (Soukou Akki Muramasa) is now on YouTube and available as a 52mb download from the official site. The game will go on sale in Japan on October 30.

Source: Rakugakidou

Studio Pierrot has launched its (delicious cake) official site for the upcoming Yumeiro Patissiere TV series that will debut in October.

The Dance in the Vampire Bund TV anime official site has also arisen, providing a first look at the anime incarnation of Mina Tepes (delicious cake).

Source: Moon Phase