AnimeNation Anime News Blog

The homepage for next month’s Angel Beats! anime television series has released its 8th promotional video.

Really, isn’t this show increasingly looking like a greatest hits collection of tropes and characteristics from every popular recent bishoujo anime? School uniforms? Check. Guns (see Suzumiya Haruhi and Sora no Woto)? Check. Chains (see Sora no Otoshimono)? Check. Imouto? Check. Tsundere? Check. Girl band (see Suzumiya Haruhi, Manabi Strait, K-On)? Check. Sad girl in snow, er, confetti? Check. I’m not exactly complaining. I just hope this lives up to its tremendous advance billing.

The homepage for animator/director Jun Awazu’s new picture, Planzet, has added a new streaming trailer. The full CG alien attack sci-fi/action movie is scheduled for Japanese theatrical premiere on May 22. The new trailer is also available below:

Granted, not as exciting as the first trailer since this one introduces the characters and a bit more plot. The characters aren’t the most lifelike CG I’ve ever seen, but this does still look good from a low budget indie production.

Source: Quiet Earth

The homepage for the upcoming Kamen Rider x Kamen Rider x Kamen Rider The Movie: Cho Den-O Trilogy has added a streaming trailer. The latest installment in the 2007 Kamen Rider Den-O series is a trio of theatrical movies. Episode Red, opening on May 22, will star Kamen Rider Den-O supporting character Kamen Rider Zeronos. Episode Blue, opening June 5, will feature Kamen Rider Den-O supporting character Kamen Rider New Den-O. Episode Yellow, opening June 19th, will star Kamen Rider Decade supporting character Kamen Rider Diend.

Source: Anime News Network

Question:
Spoilers Within!
While there have been several anime and manga where a major protagonist has gone over to the villain’s side (often for altruistic motives such as protecting a loved one or to act as a double agent). There doesn’t seem to be many anime or manga where a major protagonist has become one of the main villains. One notable example of this are the recent events unfolding in Naruto, where Sasuke Uchiha, once a major protagonist has become over the course of the second part of the series, a main villain. While there have been instances when a major protagonist has become a villain, it is mostly short lived. An example is Vegeta in the final saga of DBZ where he allowed himself to be taken over in hopes of regaining his former power before joining Goku’s party. Only for few chapters later he sacrifice himself to try and destroy Majin Buu to atone for his mistake in helping to resurrect him. In Fullmetal Alchemist Ling Yao in his search for immortality becomes the new Greed and allows him to take over his body. Later on though he rejoins the hero’s side but becomes something of an anti-hero by wanting to become the ruler of the world by killing his original creator. I was wondering if there has been other anime or manga where a major protagonist ended becoming a major villain.
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Digital Manga has formally announced its acquisition of Ayano Yamane’s Finder Series of yaoi manga. Finder volume 1: Target in the Viewfinder will go on sale this summer.

The Finder Series books were previously licensed for English language release by Central Park Media, but never released.

Fans of last year’s bishoujo mahjong anime TV series Saki may enjoy watching the opening video for the upcoming Saki Portable PSP game. It’s streaming on the game’s homepage now. The game goes on sale on the 25th.

Source: Moon Phase

Question:
There have been numerous reports recently about the Chinese media copying -nearly panel for panel- Japanese anime series and passing them off as their own series. What do Japanese fans and the industry feel about this? And why are copyright laws so completely unenforced in China (which is now the 2nd/3rd largest economy on the planet, and doesn’t need to be cheap about stealing anime)? If an American company were to produce and rip off Naruto with a series “Nharuto” that looked 99% identical, then there’s no way they’d be able to get away with it without having their pants sued off.

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In response to tremendous outrage from the American anime fan community, FUNimation has revised its stance on plans to distribute only a censored version of the Dance in the Vampire Bund anime series. FUNimation now states that an uncensored American DVD release is under consideration pending the content of the series’ remaining 4 yet to air episodes.

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The Nicktoons television channel has announced plans to begin broadcasting the “Dragon Ball Z Kai” (known as “Dragon Ball Kai” in Japan) television series this May. Kai is a remastered, condensed edit of the 1989 Dragon Ball Z television series featuring new opening and ending animation sequences and small interior digital alterations and updates. The series has been licensed for American broadcast through FUNimation, which will handle home video distribution.

Source: Anime News Network

Crunchyroll has announced that the site will cease supporting download-to-own options on March 31. The distributor has already ceased offering most titles as downloads; however, a handful are still available for permanent download at $1.99 per episode or an elective donation. Crunchyroll CEO explained the move saying, “Our core business and the future for anime is simulcast… We are dedicating more resources to provide the best experience for Anime fans, and are increasing the number of ways they can stream content from our site.”

This move begets a lot of questions. Crunchyroll’s statement doesn’t say that they’re refocusing resources. The implication is that Crunchyroll is dropping download-to-own because it’s unpopular. I have to wonder if there’s more behind this decision than CR is admitting publicly.

Source: Anime Vice

MTV Iggy now hosts an artist profile of vocalist & actress CHiAKi KURiYAMA including an interview and a preview of the promotional video for her single “Ryusei No Namida,” theme song for the Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn OVA series.

The latest issue of Monthly Comic Beam Magazine reveals that Takako Shimura’s school comedy/drama manga series Wandering Son (Horo Musuko) will be adapted as an anime. The series’ story revolves around a 5th grade boy frequently mistaken for a girl, and his female classmate who wishes she was a boy. The ongoing manga series launched in 2002. Fantagraphics will release the first volume of the English translated manga this December. Wandering Son creator Takako Shimura’s manga series Aoi Hana was adapted into an anime television series last year.

I believe I’ve previously said something about manga-ka who get one anime adaptation usually get another.

Source: Anime News Network

Moetan anime director Keiichiro Kawaguchi has publicly revealed that the Electromagnetic Wave independent artist group is now developing a second Kowarekake no Orgel OVA. The new episode will be a side-story set in the same universe, featuring a new character voiced by Yuka Iguchi (Index in Toaru Majutsu no Index). The self-contained first Kowarekake no Orgel OVA was released in Japan last December.

Source: Anime News Network

British expatriate in Japan Danny Choo has revealed his establishment of an independent anime production studio called “Mirai Fusion” (Future Fusion). The studio is presently developing two projects, one of which is a promotional video starring Choo’s original mascot character “Mirai-chan.”

Source: Anime News Network

Japanese online specialty retailer BrainPolice is now accepting reservations (until the 29th) for a commemorative Ladies vs Butlers! telephone card that includes a 100% silk replica of character Selnia Iori Flameheart’s panties. The “Ladies vs Butler Selnia-ojousama Pantsu Telecar Set” retails at 3,150 yen.

Just too novel and weird not to mention.

Source: Rakugakidou