AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Question:
What is your opinion of the Spice and Wolf Yen Press novel cover backlash?

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During last weekend’s New York Anime Fest, Del Rey announced its acquisition of translation & publication rights to 4 new manga titles:

Arisa, by Natsumi Ando
Here I Am! (Koko ni Iru Yo!), by Ema Toyami
Rave Master (Rave), by Hiro Mashima
Yokai Navi Runa, by Runa Rindo

Source: Anime News Network

During last weekend’s New York Anime Fest, FUNimation announced its acquisition of five installments of the Initial D anime franchise and the 2001 X TV anime series.

Specifically, FUNimation’s acquisition of Initial D includes the three TV series, the Extra Stage OVA, and the Third Stage motion picture. FUNimation previously distributed the First Stage, Second Stage, and Extra Stage anime on behalf of Tokyopop. The Big Apple Anime Fest hosted the world premiere of an English dubbed version of the Third Stage motion picture in 2003, however that dub was never released on American home video. FUNimation’s release of Initial D will feature a newly recorded English dub. The Fourth Stage TV series has never previously been officially released in America.

FUNimation will also re-release Geneon’s translation of the 2001 X Episode 0 OVA and its follow-up TV series.

Source: Anime News Network

During last weekend’s New York Anime Fest, Tokyopop confirmed the acquisition of 9 manga titles.

.hack//Link (.hack//Link ~Kokon no Kishidan~), by Megane Kikuya
Ratman, by Sekihiko Inui
Qwasar Stigmata (Seikon no Qwaser), by Hiroyuki Yoshino
Song and Laughter (Boku ga Utau to Kimi wa Waraukara), by Natsuki Takaya

The Blu imprint will add the yaoi manga titles:

Blood Honey, by Sakyo Yozakura
Croquis, by Hinako Takanaga
Cute Demon (Kawaii Akuma), by Hiro Madarame
Love Knot, by Lemon Ichijo
Love Story in the Isolated Island (Sakoku Renai), by DUO BRAND.

Source: Anime News Network

During last weekend’s New York Anime Fest, Vertical announced its acquisition of four new manga titles:

Chi’s Sweet Home, by Kanata Konami
Needle (70 Oku no Hari), by Nobuaki Tadano
Peepo Choo, by Felipe Smith
Twin Spica (Futatsu no Spica), by Kou Yaginuma

Earlier this month Vertical marketing director Ed Chavez stated that Chi’s Sweet Home was not a Vertical acquisition, although Vertical was one of multiple licensors interested in the series.

Source: Anime News Network

During last weekend’s New York Anime Fest, Viz Media announced plans for an online simulcast of the Inuyasha: The Final Act television series on the ShonenSunday.com & Hulu websites. The first episode will premiere on October 3.

New manga acquisitions are:

Bob and His Funky Crew (Bob to Yukaina Nakamatachi), by Puncho Kondoh
Gente (Gente ~Ristorante no Hitobito~), by Natsume Ono
Grand Guignol Orchestra (Guignol Kyutei Gakudan), by Kaori Yuki
Library Wars: Love & War (Toshokan Senso: Love & War), by Kiiro Yumi – a shoujo manga adaptation of Hiro Arikawa’s Toshokan Senso novel series
Nice to Meet You, Kamisama (Kami-sama Hajimemashita), by Julietta Suzuki
What’s the Answer? (Kotae Wa Mittsu), by Tondabayashi

Viz also has plans for an English language publication of the Vampire Knight Official Fan Book.

New novel titles for the Haikasoru line are:

The Book of Heroes (Eiyu no Sho), by Miyuki Miyabe
Loups-Garous, by Natsuhiko Kyogoku
The Next Continent, by Issui Ogawa
Slum Online, by Hiroshi Sakurazaka

Source: Anime News Network

Crunchyroll has begun streaming the current Flash anime TV series Naked Wolves (Hadaka no Okami). The series’ first 25 episodes will be available over the next several days. Episode 26 will simulcast next week as it airs in Japan.

Crunchyroll will begin streaming next month’s Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee television anime series on October 3 when it premieres in Japan.

Japanese publisher Kadokawa has added to YouTube a new 30 second TV commercial for next month’s romantic comedy TV anime series Sora no Otoshimono. The harem comedy about a boy who has an angel literally fall from the heavens into his lap will premiere on October 4th.

Source: Anime News Network

The homepage for for next month’s Seitokai no Ichizon TV anime series is now streaming a 15-second trailer. The harem show based on Sekina Aoi & Kira Inugami’s series of Hekiyo Gakuen Seito-kaigi Jiroku (The Records of the Hekiyoh School Student Council’s Activities) light novels will premiere on October 2nd.

Source: Anime News Network

Japanese public TV network NHK will commemorate the 100th anniversary of famed author Osamu Dazai’s birth with the broadcast of the 4 episode Dazai Osamu Tanpen Shosetsu-shu (Dazai Osamu Short Story Collection) mini-series next month. Two of the Dezai stories adapted for the series will be live action; two will be animated.

Dazai’s 1944 story Yuki no Yo no Hanashi (A Snowy Night’s Tale) will air on October 13. The 1947 short story Tokatonton will air on October 15.

Next month’s Aoi Bungaku Series anime television show will include adaptations of Dazai’s stories No Longer Human (Ningen Shikkaku) and Run, Melos! (Hashire Melos!).

Source: Anime News Network

Japanese film production studio Kadokawa Pictures has announced that its American subsidiary, Kadokawa Pictures USA, ceased operations on August 31, 2009. Kadokawa Pictures USA was previously involved in arranging American licensing & distribution of anime series including Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid & Spice and Wolf – distributed by FUNimation; The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Lucky Star, and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya – distributed by Bandai; and Junjo Romantica, Rental Magica, and The Third – distributed by Nozomi Entertainment.

Source: Mania.com Forum

The mobile phone video content producer BeeTV has revealed its development of a live action adaptation of Sensha Yoshida’s 4 panel nonsense gag comedy manga Utsurun Desu. The live action adaptation will be a 50 episode series with new episodes released daily beginning October 26. Arata Furuta (Ping Pong, 20th Century Boys) & Akina Minami (Maison Ikkoku drama) will star. Comedian Takanori Takeyama, who provided the voice of Kabuto-Mushi Saito-san in the anime adaptation will reprise the role in the live action version. A 3 episode OVA series adaptation debuted last month.

Source: Anime News Network

The official website for next month’s Kampfer gender-swap supernatural street-fighting action/comedy television series has added a streaming trailer. The show will premiere on October 1st.

Source: Moon Phase

Question:
Would you say that there is a formula or common occurrences in anime that reaches America versus anime that just stays in Japan?

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A new, full length trailer for Molot Entertainment & Studio 4°C’s feature anime film First Squad has surfaced. The film will has its premiere screening today at the 2009 Fantastic Fest film festival in Austin, Texas. It opens in Russian theaters on October 15th.

I have to admit that while I’m still hoping to be blown away by this film, my awe of it has been decreasing with each new trailer released over the past four years. This is undeniably a groundbreaking collaboration, but I can’t avoid thinking that the footage in this latest trailer reveals some weakness in art design and animation quality that’s not quite as fluid as earlier pilot footage. Maybe it’s just a case of being faced with realistic circumstances after so many years of elevated expectations.

Source: Twitch