AnimeNation Anime News Blog

The TBS television network has announced a live action television series adaptation of Miki Yoshikawa’s high-school comedy manga series Yankee-kun to Megane-chan. The story stars Daichi Shinagawa, a boy with little interest in school, who is encouraged to participate in school activities by his class representative, the glasses-wearing Hana Adachi, herself a reformed delinquent. Hiroki Narimiya (Gokusen, NANA, Akihabara@DEEP) will play Shinagawa. Riisa Naka (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Kami no Shizuku) will portray Adachi. The series will premiere with a 75 minute long special broadcast on April 23.

Source: Anime News Network

Mayumi Kurata’s light-hearted essay manga series Damens Walker is being adapted into an anime series for cel phone distribution. The comic manga series about a woman who prefers dating “damenzu” or dame na otoko (good-for-nothing men) premiered in 2000. It currently has 15 compiled volumes which have sold over 2 million copies. The manga series was adapted into live action television series in 2002 and 2006. Damens Walker the Anime will consist of a dozen 3 minute long episodes released weekly on the BeeTV network for Docomo mobile phone subscribers beginning March 1.

Source: Anime News Network

Reportedly the April issue of Kerokero Ace Magazine, which goes on sale in Japan this Friday, will formally announce that a SD Gundam Sangokuden television anime series will premiere on April 3. The Japanese retail website Hobby Net announced a forthcoming SD Gundam Sangokuden television series on January 22, but provided no verifiable evidence. The super deformed Gundam adaptation of the classic Chinese Romance of the Three Kingdoms epic will debut shortly after the February 27 theatrical premiere of the Chou Denei-ban SD Gundam Sangokuden ~ Brave Battle Warriors anime motion picture.

Following on the heels of shows like Souten Koro, Ikkitousen, and Koihime Muso, I think I’d prefer to see a new Musha Gundam series instead, but I guess we’re getting Sangokushi Gundam specifically because it is the trend right now.

Source: Anime News Network

Bandai Entertainment has acquired translation and distribution rights to two anthology manga series based on the Code Geass anime franchise. The five volume Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Knights manga contains stories revolving around the series’ male characters targeted at female readers. The five volume Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Queens manga series consists of stories starring the series’ female characters and is targeted at male readers. The first volume of the Knights manga will premiere in May. The English language Queens manga series will debut in June.

Since this is becoming such a routine occurance, I haven’t always bothered reporting new Bandai Entertainment street date delays. But since some readers want to know, Bandai has just announced that its Code Geass: Lelouche of the Rebellion R2 Part 4 (in regular and limited edition variations) and Mobile Suit Gundam OO Season 2 Part 1 (in regular and special edition variations) that were scheduled for release on March 2 will now be released on April 6.

A copy of Action Comics issue 1 in CGC 8.0 condition sold at auction yesterday for a record setting one million dollars. The 1938 comic features the first published appearance of Superman. Only 100 copies of the comic are known to still exist, and only two known copies are in 8.0 condition or better. A copy of the comic in CGC 6.0 condition sold for a, at the time, record setting $317,200 last year.

Wow.

Source: ICv2

Question:
I see a pattern among mecha shows. Godannar, Gravion, Giant Robo, Gao Gai Gar, GoLion, Getter Robo. The list goes on. Is there a reason that robots (and thus the series) often starts with “G” something? Some Japanese custom I’m missing? Or does it just sound so much cooler that way?

(more…)

On the heels of announcing its acquisition of the Urotsukidoji anime formerly distributed by Central Park Media, Media Blasters has now confirmed its acquisition of the Lodoss War anime series, also previously distributed by Central Park Media. The acquisition includes the 13 episode Record of Lodoss War OVA series from 1990 and its 27 episode 1998 sequel television series, Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight. Media Blasters has not determined a release date or precise release format for the title yet.

Source: Anime News Network

The January 2010 issue of English language horror entertainment magazine Rue Morgue includes an interview with Japanese horror novelist and Vampire Hunter D creator Hideyuki Kikuchi that reveals Kikuchi is currently developing both a live action Vampire Hunter D feature film and anime series.

Source: Anime Vice

The homepage for the horror anime TV series Shiki now hosts a new, second teaser trailer – the first trailer to reveal footage from the upcoming show. Note that the trailer contains brief shots of gruesome imagery. The 22 episode adaptation of Fuyumi Ono and Ryu Fujisaki’s manga about a rural Japanese village beset upon by vampires will premiere in the Fuji TV network’s late night Noitamina this July.

Pretty funky looking chara design.

Source: Anime News Network

The homepage for the upcoming Sarai-ya Goyou anime television series has added a streaming trailer. The adaptation of Natsume Ono’s samurai drama manga series “House of Five Leaves” will air during the Fuji TV network’s late night Noitamina timeslot beginning April 15th. Ono’s manga series Ristorante Paradiso was adapted into a Noitamina anime series last year.

Source: Anime News Network

The homepage for the upcoming Yojo-Han Shinwa Taikei anime television series has added a streaming teaser trailer. The adaptation of Tomihiko Morimi’s comic drama manga is the latest collaboration between director Masaaki Yuasa and animation studio Madhouse. Yuasa previously directed the Kaiba and Kemonozume television series at Madhouse. The series will premiere in the Fuji TV network’s late night Noitamina timeslot on April 15.

The homepage for the upcoming live action television series adaptation of Masayuki Ishikawa’s manga series Moyashimon has added a streaming teaser trailer. Click the bacteria on the bottom far right to view the trailer. The series will air during the Fuji TV network’s late night Noitamina timeslot beginning in July. The manga was adapted into a Noitamina anime television series in 2007.

Source: Anime News Network

Media Blasters has revealed its acquisition of the first Sayonara, Zetsubou-sensei anime television series. The acclaimed anime adaptation of Koji Kumeta’s comedy manga revolves around a frustrated and suicidal high school teacher and his class of oddball, mostly female, students. The 12 episode anime series from 2007 will premiere on subtitled American DVD on May 25.

Media Blasters has also acquired the original 3 episode Urotsukidoji erotic horror/fantasy OVA series and its compiled movie, which were previously released on domestic VHS and DVD by Central Park Media. Urotsukidoji will return to American home video on May 18.

Source: Anime News Network & Source: Mania.com

The latest character trailer for the upcoming Working!! anime television series has gone online. This trailer introduces cook Sanj… er, Sato Jun. The Working!! anime television series will premiere in April.

Source: Moon Phase