The official website for the Mahou Sensei Negima! Mouhitotsu no Sekai OAD series has released a new, second streaming trailer for the upcoming anime. The first of four “Magic World” episodes will be bundled with limited edition copies of Ken Akamatsu’s Mahou Sensei Negima manga volume 27 when it goes on sale on the 17th.
Source: Moon Phase
Gokyoudai Monogatari (Sibling Stories), an anime television series adaptation of Tetsu Adachi’s award winning manga Baka Kyoudai (Idiotic Siblings) on October 10. The ongoing original manga, which premiered in 1999, is a chronicle of the daily lives of twin brother and sister children who live a carefree life in lower-class Tokyo neighborhoods, enjoying heartwarming encounters with other local residents.
The series will be taking over the timeslot of the long running Atashi’n chi television anime that’s been airing since 2002.
This looks like it could be charming fun. And it co-stars Yuki Matsuoka (the voice of Haré+Guu’s Mari) as the sister Onei Jinushi.
Source: Anime News Network & Moon Phase Diary
Graphic designer Peter Mendelsund has launched a contest, in association with manga publisher Vertical, challenging participants to compose a color scheme for the cover of an upcoming of Vertical’s Black Jack manga – the long running medical adventure by Osamu Tezuka. Winning submissions will be used in the cover design of a forthcoming volume of Vertical’s Black Jack manga, and winners will receive a complete set of Vertical’s Black Jack manga.
Article provided by Daniel Zelter
The official website for the live action Kaiji movie, based on Nobuyuki Fukumoto’s suspensful gambling manga Tobaku Mokushiroku Kaiji, is now streaming a trailer. The movie hits Japanese theaters on October 10.
The official website for the Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu (I Give My First Love to You) live action film adaptation of Kotomi Aoki’s romance manga now hosts teasers 1 & 2 and a full trailer. The movie will open on October 24th.
Source: Anime News Network
Sharp-eyed Chinese viewers have noticed that scenes from the currently airing Chinese government sponsored animated television program Xin Ling Zhi Chuang (Spirit’s Window) bear an uncanny resemblance to scenes from director Makoto Shinkai’s 2007 anime feature film 5 Centimeters Per Second. Ironically, the show’s introduction describes it as, “Animation to raise wholesome minds and teach a noble view of life.” Reportedly, the Lanhai Technology animation studio that produces the show has refused to comment on the accusation of plagiarism. Japanese websites Narinari.com and Gigazine have posted numerous screenshot comparisons of the two productions.
Other similar instances of apparent Chinese copies of anime have surfaced recently.
Question:
I just watched HOSHI NO KOE/VOICES OF A DISTANT STAR. I’m once again dumbfounded to what people see in SHINKAI Makoto. The very concept of a cell phone (even in “the future”) being able to transmit messages from light-years away back to Earth is already laughable, and the fact that the entire dramatic core hinges on that very notion makes the entire pretentiously weighty concept of the short OVA collapse onto itself into a black hole of ridiculous nothing. The background design is impressive, but the character design is hideous and regularly does things that even exaggerated “anime” based human anatomy is simply not capable of – this is something he didn’t fix during BEYOND THE CLOUDS, either. The mecha action may have been sexy 7 years ago when it was copywritten, but now it’s just kind of quaint. While I thought that Beyond the Coulds was a train wreck, at least I felt it had a few positive qualities struggling to make an impact. I feel only respect for Shinkai’s moxie, not his actual work. And if this guy is supposedly, “The Next Miyazaki,” then I feel legitimate worry for the future of Japanese animation.
The official homepage for the Space Battleship Yamato: Rebirth Chapter (Uchuu Senkan Yamato: Fukkatsu-hen) anime movie has added a streaming teaser (upper button) and full trailer (lower button). The movie is a direct sequel to the 1983 Final Yamato movie, set 17 years later when former Yamato first mate Susumu Kodai has been promoted to ship captain. The movie will hit Japanese theaters on December 12th.
I have nothing but respect for the Yamato anime franchise, despite the disappointing Yamato 2520; however, the CG implementation, character design, and character detail in this new movie look really cheap and ugly to me. Hopefully strong writing will overcome weak visuals.
Source: Anime News Network
The first 5 (of 10) episodes of the Flash anime series Utagame are now officially available on YouTube. Utagame, a super-genius rabbit (usagi) accidentally merged with a slow-witted turtle (kame), is the mascot character of Japanese mobile solutions company Nihon Enterprise.
Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5
Source: Anime News Network
The official webpage for AIC’s Tentai Senshi Sunred TV anime adaptation of Makoto Kubota parody manga has announced that the show’s second series will premiere on the TV Kanagawa network on October 3rd at 11:30 pm. The episode will begin streaming on the Nico Nico Douga website immediately following the TV Kanagawa broadcast.
Source: Rakugakidou
California based publisher Tokyopop has confirmed that Japanese licensor Kodansha has decided not to renew or extend the translating & publishing licenses for any of its titles previously or presently distributed by Tokyopop. Kodansha has not explained its decision, however, numerous Kodansha manga titles continue to be published in North America by other distributors including Del Rey and Dark Horse. Both Del Rey & Dark Horse are continuing to acquire new distribution licenses for Kodansha titles, including titles previously published by Tokyopop. Furthermore, Random House will begin distributing the Akira and Ghost in the Shell manga domestically on behalf of Kodansha in October.
Tokyopop has informed ICv2 that the break with Kodansha will have, “little bearing on Tokyopop’s current or future stability” because the publisher presently has licensing partnerships with a number of other Japanese publishers. About.com has published a complete list of Kodansha titles previously and presently distributed by Tokyopop, divided into titles presently unfinished in America, titles transferred to other domestic publishers, and titles presently out of print in America.
Source: Anime News Network
The official website for the upcoming Anymal Tantei Kiruminzu has added 3 streaming “Today’s Animal” (Kyo no Animal) video clips. The TV anime about three animal cosplay loving sisters that discover the ability to literally transform into animals will premiere in October.
Source: Moon Phase
Noboru Iguchi’s (Machine Girl) latest creation is The Ancient Dogoo Girl (Kodai Shojo Dogu-chan), a tokusatsu comedy TV series starring 18-year-old Idoling!!! member Erika Yazawa. Pop star Yazawa will play an ancient girl revived after 10,000 years to battle evil teenage monsters in present day Japan while befriending socially withdrawn teen boy Makoto, played by Masataka Kubota (Keitai Sosakan 7, Mop Girl). Iguchi directed the series’ first episode (and has a cameo appearance in the episode). Directors including Takashi Shimizu (Ju-on) and Ryuta Miyake (Ju-on: Shiroi Rojo) will helm episodes. Tokyo Gore Police director Yoshihiro Nishimura and Machine Girl & Robo-Geisha visual effects designer are contributing to the show’s models and visual effects.
The MBS network will begin airing The Ancient Dogoo Girl on October 7.
Absolutely crazy.
Source: Nippon Cinema
Rockin’ Android has formally released its English translation of the gorgeous Japanese doujin PC shooting game QLIONE. The full game is now available for download at $9.99 from Gamersgate and Direct2Drive.
Animator Matthew Reis sent word that his latest animated short, Kid with a Rocket Launcher: The Fuzz of War, has just premiered on YouTube. It’s fun, so check it out.
Question:
I have recently gotten into the Keroro Gunso anime and manga. Before I got into the series though, I read there was controversy surrounding the series for the manga’s use of the word “Pokopen.” The only information I have on the word is that it is a derogatory term used used by the Japanese against the Chinese during the Sino-Japanese War. My own translation from the Character Guide comes out as “earth human” or “earth person.” So, basically, who first came up with this term, what does it mean, and importantly what was Mine Yoshizaki’s intent in using this word in the Keroro Gunso manga?
