AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Animation fans across Asia have been quick to notice that the upcoming Chinese animated series Astro Plan bears a striking resemblance to Macross.

(or Macross and Gundam Seed)

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Question:
Is there anything like a list of hentai that doesn’t have rape in it? It seems to me like there would be lots of films (and a huge market for) hentai films that don’t feature rape, or a lot of other hentai elements that are considered not normal or generally offensive in America, and even in the context of American pornography. However, all the hentai I seem to be running into nowadays seem to be pretty offensive, and I’m not interested in viewing or buying anything that has any rape, coercion, or bondage/sadomasochism in it.

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Reportedly the March issue of Dragon Magazine, which goes on sale January 20th, will formally announce the development of an anime adaptation of Takaya Kagami’s fantasy adventure novel series Densetsu no Yusha no Densetsu (Legend of the Legendary Hero). The best selling sword & sorcery adventure series premiered in 2002. The 17 novels published so far have sold 3.8 million copies. A manga adaptation by Hiroko Nagakura has been ongoing since 2008.

Source: Anime News Network

An advertising flyer distributed at last week’s Comic Market 77 convention in Tokyo reveals that the Kaito Tenshi Twin Angel franchise will get a new web anime series this year. The magical bishoujo thief themed pachisuro (pachinko-parlor slot machine) game developed by Trivy & Sammy launched in 2007 and spun off a two episode OVA series in 2008. A Twin Angel 2 promotional DVD was released in August 2009.

Source: Anime News Network

Anime production studio White Fox has formally confirmed that an unidentified hacker gained access to the studio’s online FTP server and copied production files related to the upcoming Katanagatari television series. The stolen materials included scripts for the series’ first 10 episodes, draft scripts for episodes 11 & 12, storyboards, the completed series’ opening and ending animation sequences, and multiple versions of the series’ opening and ending theme songs. All of the materials were subsequently spread publicly through the internet earlier this week. The message on the White Fox homepage apologizes for trouble caused by the leak and confirms that the studio is cooperating with local police to investigate the crime.

Source: Anime News Network

California based toy company Jakks Pacific will partner with Japanese advertising agency and anime producer Dentsu on the creation of a 52 episode animated series titled “Monsuno.” The show will be developed at Dentsu’s Los Angeles-based subsidiary, DCI-LA, and animated in Japan. Bakugan Battle Brawlers producer Mitsuharu Inoue will serve as series’ creative director. The show about, “reawakened monster DNA that finds its way into the unsuspecting hands of adventure-seeking lads” will be targeted at 6- to 11-year-old boy viewers. Jakks Pacific will produce toys based on the property.

Well, whether this genuinely qualifies as “anime” may be up for debate.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

The official homepage for the live action film adaptation of Harold Sakuishi’s Beck rock-and-roll manga now features 30 seconds of Flash teaser footage. Director Yukihiko (20th Century Boys) Tsutsumi’s film about five high-school boys’ struggle to launch a rock band will hit Japanese theaters this fall.

The best selling original manga is available in English from Tokyopop. Madhouse produced an anime television series based on the manga in 2004.

Source: Anime News Network

FUNimation has announced plans to release the 2000 FLCL OVA series in DVD complete collection and on Blu-ray disc later this year. The popular six episode sci-fi comedy was previously released on American DVD by now defunct distributor Synch-Point.

Crunchyroll has formally announced plans to offer English subtitled streams of this month’s new Durarara!! anime television series to viewers in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland. Subscribers will have access to new weekly episodes within an hour of their Japanese television broadcast. The adaptation of Baccano author Ryohgo Narita’s suspense adventure novel series will premiere this Saturday.

The official homepage for next April’s Working!! anime television series is now streaming last month’s Comic Market 77 promotion video. The adaptation of Karino Takatsu’s comedy manga is the day-to-day story of the work lives of the staff of a family restaurant in Hokkaido, Japan.

Source: Anime News Network

Shogakukan has formally announced the development of a Zettai Karen Children: Chuugakusei-hen (Absolutely Lovely Children: Junior High Arc) OVA. Takashi Shiina’s comic adventure manga about three 10 year old psychic girls utilized as government sponsored crime fighters was adapted into a 52 episode anime television series in 2008. The new OVA will be an original story depicting Kaoru, Aoi, and Shiho’s graduation into junior high school.

Source: Moon Phase

Japanese fans have noticed that the Japanese branch of online retailer Amazon has listed DVD and Blu-ray discs of Kizumonogatari and Nisemonogatari, with no release dates. Kizumonogatari and Nisemonogatari are, respectively, author NisiOisin’s prequel and sequel to the popular Bakemonogatari light novel series that was adapted into an anime television series last year.

Animation studio Shaft, which produced the Bakemonogatari anime, has already launched work on three additional Bakemonotagari episodes. And anime studio White Fox is currently developing an anime television series adaptation of NisiOisin’s Katanagatari light novel series.

Source: Anime News Network

Reportedly the February issue of Bessatsu Margaret magazine, which goes on sale in Japan next Wednesday, will formally announce the development of a live action feature film adaptation of Karuho Shiina’s award winning shoujo manga Kimi ni Todoke. The story about a shy high school girl who learns of friendship and love by developing relationships with her classmates has been ongoing since 2005. An anime television series adaptation started last October. Viz Media publishes the manga series in English.

Source: Anime News Network

Oricon reports that producers are now holding open auditions for the cast of a live action film adaptation of Hidenori Hara’s drama manga series Hoshi no Furumachi ~ When You Wish Upon a Star. Final auditions and the movie filming will actually be held around Himishi City, Toyama, where the manga story occurs. The manga revolves around Kotaro Tsutsumi, a high school age boy who matures by developing relationships with his classmates and neighbors. The manga was serialized from 2006-2008 and compiled into 7 collected volumes.

Source: Anime News Network

Metrocon, Florida’s largest anime convention, will take place on the weekend of July 23-25, at the Tampa Convention Center in downtown Tampa. Pre-Registration is now open for purchase of both regular weekend passes and a maximum of 200 VIP weekend passes. Advance tickets are also now available for the Fantasy Masquerade.