AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Kadokawa has released a 30 second trailer for this month’s Kiddy Girl-and television series. The trailer above promotes the series’ October 22nd streaming premiere on the Kadokawa Channel. The same trailer with different narration is also available, promoting the October 22nd streaming premiere on the Newtype Channel. The show will have its broadcast premiere on the TV Saitama network on the 15th.

Kiddy Girl-and is set 50 years after the events depicted in Kiddy Grade.

I didn’t mention the 11eyes trailer because the show already broadcast its first episode yesterday.

With a name like “Kiddy Girl-and” why isn’t Yotsuba in the trailer?

Source: Anime News Network

The Japanese Family Gekijyo (Family Theater) television network has announced plans to broadcast a Kokekko-san full CG anime series beginning this December. The story about the daily life of Kokekko-san, a motherly egg with chicken features that raises her chicks, is based on artist Karoku-Kobo’s series of Kokekko-san picture books. Five Kokekko-san picture books have been published since 2007.

Source: Anime News Network

The first volume of the Dragon Ball manga has become the center of controversy in Wicomico County, Maryland. A mother of a 9-year-old who borrowed the book from the local Pittsville Elementary and Middle School library contacted county council member Joe Holloway to complain about sexual content present in the book available to children. Holloway presented examples of “nudity, sexual contact between children and sexual innuendo among adults and children,” from the graphic novel to fellow county council members during a council meeting yesterday. Wicomico schools Superintendent John Fredericksen stated his intention to have the book temporarily withdrawn from circulation until it’s reviewed by a committee that judges the suitability of “red-flagged books” for the children’s library. Councilman Holloway said of the book, “The drawings and story lines are disgusting.”

Viz Media initially released Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball manga series uncensored in America in 1998. In 1999 a consumer complaint to a Toy’R'Us store about the Dragon Ball manga containing “borderline soft porn” imagery caused the retail to cease carrying the comic title. In early 2000 Viz began censoring the Dragon Ball manga. In March 2001, in response to vehement encouragement from the fan community, Viz ceased editing the Dragon Ball manga and began distributing the books with a “13-and-up” reader advisory.

Source: Delmarva Now! via Daizenshuu EX

The Centennial High School Anime Club based in Ellicott City, Maryland, will host its second annual Otaku Fest convention on April 24th, 2010 at Centennial High School. The one day convention will feature anime & Japanese movie screenings, discussion panels and workshops, masquerade & AMV contests, a dealer’s area, artist alley, video game room and tournament, karaoke contest, manga library, “Crazy Otaku Challenges” (i.e. ramen eating contest, Haruhi dance competition, etc.) and more.

Question:
As far as I know, Haibane Renmei, originally released in North American by Geneon, has not be re-licensed. It has never been a well-know or popular series, but many fans agree that it is an exceptional series. Do you believe it has a chance of being picked back up by some other company? Do you think it has the same chance as any other title, better, or worse?

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Sentai Filmworks’ first subtitled DVD collection of the To Love Ru sci-fi romantic comedy anime television series will hit stores on December 15. The 13 episode collection will retail at $39.98.

Switchblade Pictures will release a double feature of the live action sword & sorcery films Makiriko & Battler Sienne Matra on December 1. The live action animal thriller film Gun-Kyu ~ War Pigeon fill follow on December 8. Both subtitled releases will retail at $19.98 each.

Section23 will handle DVD distribution to retailers.

Marvelous Entertainment has selected Crunchyroll to handle online distribution of the current 11eyes anime television series for viewers outside of Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and French-speaking Europe. New episodes will be available for free to all Crunchyroll site visitors one week after Japanese TV broadcast, and earlier to Crunchyroll subscribers. The first episode of the fantasy adventure adaptation of Lass’ adult PC game premiered on Japanese television last night.

The PlayStation Network yesterday added all three original Naruto feature films:

Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow

Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel

Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom

Japan’s Bandai Visual has announced development of an anime feature film based on acclaimed author Natsuhiko Kyogoku’s virtual reality werewolf novel Loups-Garous ~ Kihi Subeki Okami. Production I.G (Higashi no Eden, Sengoku Basara) and TransArts (Kemono no Souja Erin) will collaborate on the animation production. Jun’ichi Fujisaku (Blood+) will direct. The Loups-Garous story is set in a near future when interpersonal communication has been nearly entirely transitioned to digital interaction. Three schoolgirls become absorbed in a murder mystery when one of the few friends they know in person is mysteriously killed.

Last month Viz Media announced plans for an English language translation of the original novel in January 2010. Author Natsuhiko Kyogoku’s Mouryo no Hako and Kyogoku Natsuhiko Kosetsu Hyaku Monogatari novels have previously been adapted into anime.

Source: Anime News Network

Bandai has announced that children’s “Happy Set” meals available from Japanese McDonald’s restaurants on November 7 & 8 will include an exclusive Tamagotchi! Special DVD featuring original animation and a music video of “Tamagotchi Planet idol Lovelyn’s” hit song “‘Every Lovely.”

The latest Tamagotchi! anime television series will premiere on Japanese TV on the 12th.

Source: Anime News Network

FUNimation has confirmed that its forthcoming DVD release of the Strike Witches anime series, and “any subsequent subscription or download-to-own” distribution will consist of the uncensored Japanese home video version. FUNimation presently streams the censored broadcast version of the show. FUNimation did, briefly, stream the uncensored version of Strike Witches episodes 3 & 4 with a viewer age verification gateway, but removed the episodes from online distribution due to public complaints.

Source: Anime News Network

Last week’s Japanese premiere episode of To Aru Kagaku no Railgun had varying degrees of censorship imposed on its shower scene in broadcasts by different regional Japanese TV networks.

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The fan organized Lilium Music Box Project has launched to collect the funds necessary to sponsor production of a music box mechanism that will replicate the memorable “Lilium” music box theme from the Elfen Lied anime television series. The ultimate goal of the concern is to create a limited edition functioning replica of Elfen Lied character Lucy’s music box. Please visit the Lilium Music Box Project homepage to learn more and participate in the effort.

Kodansha, Japan’s largest publisher, will launch its American publishing subsidiary this month. Random House will distribute new English language editions of Akira & Ghost in the Shell published by New York City based Kodansha USA. Random House is also the parent company of Del Rey, which publishes a variety of manga titles licensed from Kodansha.

Kodansha vice-president Yoshio Irie has stated that Kodansha USA will initially concentrate on publishing English editions of established Kodansha manga titles, but does anticipate eventually expanding into acquiring & publishing new, original content. Furthermore, Irie said, “Kodansha Comics doesn’t aim to be the exclusive label for titles from Kodansha.” Tokyopop is no longer distributing Kodansha properties, but Del Rey and Dark Horse continue to publish titles licensed from Kodansha.

Source: Publishers Weekly

The official American website for Final Fantasy XIII is now streaming the latest trailer with English dubbing.

Article provided by Daniel Zelter