Question:
Why do the opening credits sequences for many anime series feel like they have better quality animation than the actual episodes themselves? Many openers contain animation that is more fluid, drawn better, and seems more like the quality of a theatrical film budget rather than an aired-on-TV or an OVA series.
The homepage for the Sekirei anime franchise has added a five minute long anime promotional video promoting the November 4 release of the “Yakusoku I’m with You / SURVIVE BABY SURVIVE!” CD single. The video summarizes the first Sekirei TV series. A second series, Sekirei ~Pure Engagement~ is in development now.
Source: Moon Phase
Animate.tv reports that the upcoming Japanese My-HiME Blu-ray Box will include four minutes of new bonus animation. “Kuro no Mai/Saigo no Bansan” (Black Dance/The Last Supper) appears to be fan service & comedy omake anime. It’s not clear if this is one bonus short episode or two separate bonus shorts. Animate.tv hosts 4 screenshots from the bonus anime. The Blu-ray box containing the 26 episode TV series from 2004 will go on sale January 27th at a 30,450 yen retail price.
Source: Anime News Network
Himitsu Kessha Taka no Tsume The Movie 3 ~http://takanotsume.jp wa Eien ni~ (Secret Society Eagle Talon movie 3: Eagle Talon.jp is Forever) will use Scottish vocalist Susan Boyle’s performance of the song “I Dreamed a Dream” as its theme song. Boyle first sang the tune from the Les Misérables stage musical last April on the Britain’s Got Talent television show, instantly earning herself international fame. The third Eagle Talon movie will hit Japanese theaters on January 16.
Source: Anime News Network
The official homepage for Studio Rikka’s web anime series The Time of Eve (Eve no Jikan) announced last May that the series’ first four episodes would be compiled into a theatrical release following the series’ completion. The site has now announced that next spring’s movie will cover all six episodes with additional new footage.
Source: Moon Phase
Question:
On my perusal of various anime forums over the years, I have found that most people who would call themselves “anime fans” are bombastic, arrogant, ignorant, and/or have a high degree of self-entitlement. While I make it a point not to paint everyone with the same brush, I can’t help but find one or many of these distinctions common among this group. Do you find this to be the case in general, or have I had the misfortune to find only the worst of a more benign group of people?
The official Japanese homepage for the Bakemonogatari television series has begun streaming the series’ unbroadcast 13th episode. The episode is the first of three that supplement the TV series’ 13 episode broadcast, concluding the broadcast series’ final storyline.
This web (and eventual home video) exclusive episode was originally scheduled for public release on October 28. The release was delayed until November 2, then delayed again to release on November 3 due to last minute editing and encoding.
The Ghibli Museum has announced its newest exclusive short anime film. Hayao Miyazaki planned and wrote Chu-Zumo (“Squeak Sumo”) based on the Japanese folktale Nezumi no Sumo (Mice Sumo). Ponyo assistant animation director Akihiko Yamashita directed the 13 minute long film. The Tokyo Ghibli Museum screens a selection of exclusive short anime films on a rotating basis. Chu-Zumo will screen in the Ghibli Museum’s Dosei-za theater from January 3 until February 28.
The story begins once upon a time when Jii and Baa (“Gramps” and “Granny”) were living deep in the mountains. One evening, Jii went outside and saw mice heading somewhere unknown. He quietly followed them and discovered that the mice were practicing sumo wrestling.
Source: Nausicaa.net
Among the over 4,000 individuals that will awarded various honors by the Japanese government this fall are four men with connections to the anime industry. The Medal of Honour with Purple Ribbon will be awarded to composer Joe Hisaishi, best known for his scores for numerous Studio Ghibli anime films; Square Enix Holdings chairman Yasuhiro Fukushima; and Shunsaku Ikehata, screenwriter for the 1971 Konchu Monogatari Minashigo Hutch anime TV series and 1972 live action Wild 7 TV series based on Mikiya Mochizuki’s manga. Nobuhiko Obayashi, who directed the 1984 Shounen Kenya anime film, will receive The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette.
Source: Anime News Network
The DC Anime Club in collaboration with Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan will host a free, public screening of the 2001 anime film Metropolis on Friday November 13, at the Lafayette Center III in Washington, DC. Seating is limited, so reservations are required.
Question:
I was wondering what are the pillars of the seinen genre and the ones that push the envelope of seinen as a whole?
In a video interview for Cinema is Dope, horror/fantasy master Clive Barker revealed plans to develop a number of his stories into horror anime projects in collaboration with Japanese director Ryuhei Kitamura. Barker specifically identifies his 1984 short story “In the Hills, the Cities,” as one title that will be animated. Discussion of anime plans begins at 5:26.
Ryuhei Kitamura made his American film directing debut helming the feature adaptation of Barker’s 1984 short story “The Midnight Meat Train.” Kitamura also directed the 2009 short anime film Baton.
Buena Vista Home Entertainment will release Studio Ghibli’s anime film Ponyo on American DVD and Blu-ray on March 2nd, 2010 in three iterations. A Standard Edition DVD will retail at $29.99. A 2-disc Special Edition will retail at $34.99 and include a limited edition Ponyo plush doll. The $39.99 BD release will contain all of the bonus features from the special edition DVD but will not be available with the plush doll. Ponyo has become director Hayao Miyazaki’s highest grossing film in American theatrical release.
Some veteran fans may recall that Fox Home Video’s original American VHS release of My Neighbor Totoro included a free plush Totoro doll.
Plush Ponyo. Must have.
Source: ICv2
Digital Manga Publishing announced a selection of new manga acquisitions during this past weekend’s Yaoi-con.
The Doki Doki label will publish:
Double Cast, by Ellie Mamahara
Isaya Takamori & illustrator Chigusa Kawai’s novel I Want to Bite You (Kamitsukitai)
Koyoi wa Kami to Chi no Kiss o (A Bloody Kiss Tonight), by Makoto Tateno
The Juné label will publish:
Café Latte Rhapsody, by Toko Kawai
Doushitemo Furetakunai (No Touching at All), by Kou Yoneda
Endless Comfort (Koukyu no Arika), by Sakura Sakuya
Kizuna Deluxe Edition (2-in-1 omnibus volume format), by Kazuma Kodoka
Seven Days: Monday-Thursday, by writer Venio Tachibana & artist Rihito Takarai
Spiral of Sand, by Yuna Aoi
Stay Close to Me (Soba ni Oitene.), by Yaya Sakuragi
The Tyrant Falls in Love (Koi suru Bo-kun), by Hinako Takanaga
Your Love Sickness (Ayashi no Kimi no Koiwazurai), by Kuku Hayate
The 801 Media label will publish Yuu Higashino’s Deeply Loving a Maniac (Cho Maniac ni Aishite).
Digital Manga also separately announced plans for digital distribution of around 20 Harlequin Manga titles this fall, including Keeping Luke’s Secret by Hinoto Mori, The Sheikh’s Reluctant Bride by Ayumi Aso, Millionaire Husband by Kanako Uesugi, and Married Under the Italian Sun by Mayu Takayama.
Source: Anime News Network
In a conference call discussing his company’s latest quarterly financial results Navarre CEO Cary L. Deacon revealed that FUNimation commands a “56% to 60%” share of America’s commercial anime distribution. Furthermore, Deacon asserted that FUNimation has “a first look at all opportunities in terms of licenses. We’re seeing them all, we have an opportunity to bid on them all.” Although, Deacon explained, FUNimation is presently, “pretty selective” about its licensing choices.
Source: ICv2
