AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Toei Animation has announced its eighth Pretty Cure motion picture. Precure All Stars DX2: Kibō no Hikari— Rainbow Angel o Mamore! (Precure All Stars DX2: Light of Hope— Protect the Rainbow Angel!) will open on March 20. The first Precure All Stars movie, which included the casts of all six Pretty Cure TV series, hit Japanese theaters this past March. The seventh Pretty Cure movie, the first Fresh Precure film, just opened in Japanese theaters this past weekend. The Precure All Stars homepage is now streaming a 25 second teaser for the new movie.

I’ll definitely be looking forward to this because the first Precure All Stars Deluxe movie was really good. I wonder if this film will ignore the first one and introduce all of the girls to each other (again) or if this film will open with all of the girls already familiar with each other.

Source: Anime News Network

The official website for the Higashi no Eden ~Eden of the East~ anime franchise has unveiled a new streaming Flash trailer for Higashi no Eden the Movie 1: The King of Eden. The first of two theatrical films that will continue the story from the April 2009 television series will hit Japanese theaters on December 19. The second film, “Paradise Lost,” will open on January 9.

This trailer finally clarifies beyond any doubt that the movies are entirely new story and animation continuing, and hopefully providing conclusion to the TV series.

Source: Anime News Network

Weekly Shonen Jump magazine has announced that creator Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece Episode 0 manga story will be animated as a limited edition OVA. Episode 0, set 20 years before the events depicted in the primary One Piece story, will debut in December’s Weekly Shonen Jump 2009 issue 53. The first 1.5 million moviegoers attending theatrical screenings of this December’s One Piece Film: Strong World will also receive a free bound copy of the manga story. The animated version of the Episode 0 manga will be released on 3,000 limited-edition DVDs given away in collaboration with House Foods. The House Foods company has previously been involved in anime promotions, including sponsoring the production of original anime TV commercials directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

Source: Anime News Network

Following several weeks of speculation and rumor, Gensomaden Saiyuki manga creator Kazuya Minekura formally confirmed at this past weekend’s Saiyuki Festa’09 -Saiyuki Series Dai-Genga-Ten- promotional event that her Saiyuki Gaiden manga will be adapted into an anime OVA format. The Saiyuki Gaiden manga, which relays Goku’s origin, 500 years before the events of Gensomaden Saiyuki, was serialized periodically from 1999 until ending this past June.

Source: Anime News Network

During yesterday’s Circus 10th Anniversary Premium Concert and Announcement publicity event the Circus adult PC game developer announced, among other projects, plans for a new D.C. ~Da Capo~ anime adaptation and a D.C. ~Da Capo~ III game. The Da Capo franchise has already spun off four anime TV series and an OVA series.

Source: Anime News Network

Japanese market analysis company Oricon now hosts an open casting call for actors to audition for roles in a live action adaptation of Nanae Chrono’s historical action manga Peace Maker Kurogane. The samurai story with supernatural overtones will premiere as a TV drama on the TBS/MBS network in January. After the television series ends, the cast will reprise their roles in a live stage play adaptation.

Source: Anime News Network

Junichi Sato, whose previous directing credits include the Aria, Sea Story, Kaleidostar, and Princess Tutu anime series, is personally developing an original iyashikei (“calming”) anime OVA titled “Tamayura.” The anime will introduce protagonist Fuu Sawatari, a young girl who lives in a waterfront town on the Seto Inland Sea and likes photography. Sato will direct the anime at Hal Film Maker (Aria, Princess Tutu) for release next year.

Source: Anime News Network

Warner Bros. has launched an official website announcing the Golden Week 2010 premiere of the Gintama: Shinyaku Benizakura Hen anime feature film.

The Japanese Cinecitta movie news website reports that the Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (Suzumiya Haruhi no Shoshitsu) movie will hit Japanese theaters on February 6, 2010.

Source: Kyou mo Yarareyaku blog

The official website for the XXXHOLiC & Tsubasa OVAs has announced that the XXXHOLiC Rou OAD will go on sale, bundled with limited edition copies of XXXHOLiC manga volume 17, on April 23, 2010. The OVA was originally announced for release with the 16th manga volume.

Source: Moon Phase