The website for TAGRO’s risqué comedy manga series Hen Zemi now hosts a streaming trailer for the Hen Zemi OAD that will be released on July 23, packaged with limited edition copies of the fourth collected manga volume. The 2006 and ongoing manga series stars the odd students of a university course on human sexuality.
Source: Moon Phase
The advertising obi on new copies of author Tsukasa Fushimi’s series of Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai (My Little Sister Can’t Be This Cute) light novels reveal that the franchise is getting an anime adaptation. Writer Tsukasa Fushimi and illustrator Hiro Kanzaki’s “OreImo” comedic novel series premiered in 2008, and its first five volumes have sold 920,000 copies and spawned a manga adaptation. The novel series stars Kyosuke Kosaka, a 17 year-old boy whose cold relationship with his younger sister is made even more difficult when he learns of and has to guard the secret that his sister is a moé anime otaku.
Source: Anime News Network
The June issue of Ribon magazine has announced that the touring “Natsu Doki Ribonko Party 55″ publicity event will exclusively screen an original short anime film based on Moe Yukimaru’s school romantic comedy manga series Hiyokoi. The “Kabocha Wine/LoveCom-in-reverse” story depicts a romance between a shy, short schoolgirl and a tall, popular boy. The “Natsu Doki– Ribon–kko Party 5″ event will make stops in Tokyo on July 30, Osaka on August 6, and Nagoya on August 19.
Source: Anime News Network
Canadian television production company Corus Entertainment has announced that the Beyblade: Metal Fusion anime television series will premiere on the Cartoon Network in the United States on Saturday, June 26 at 7:30 a.m. ET/PT.
Source: Anime News Network
Question:
Carl Macek passed away. He was arguably the most polarizing figure in the American anime industry with more than his fair share of vocal supporters and heavy detractors. Ultimately though, do you think his legacy towards the American anime fandom was a good one or a bad one?
AnimEigo CEO Robert Woodhead has revealed, “It is with deep regret that we must announce that so far, we have not been able to secure a license to release the rest of Yawara.” AnimEigo released a DVD boxed set containing the first 40 episodes of the 124 episode television series in 2008.
Well, I’m one of the people that has bought this DVD collection, and I’m grateful to have at least 40 episodes. It’s better than none.
The June issue of Megami Magazine, which goes on sale in Japan this week, reports that the two episode ToHeart2 adnext OVA series will premiere in September. The series will be the fourth ToHeart2 OVA series.
Source: Anime News Network
I wonder if we’re slowly entering a new era of dialogue heavy anime. In recent years Kurenai, Mouryou no Hako, Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei, Bakemonogatari, Katanagatari, and now Yojuhan Shinwa Taikei have been particularly dialogue heavy, relying on dialogue, monologue, and literally language itself to provide the onus of the shows. At the same time, enui anime including World of Golden Eggs, Little Village People, Peeping Life, and Himitsu Kessha Taka no Tsume have burst onto the anime scene and flourished on the strength of dialogue and conversation rather than animation quality or action. The moé trend shows no sign of evaporating, but it does feel like its steamroller momentum is slowing. I don’t believe anime has ever before moved through a period characterized by especially wordy shows, so witty, intriguing talking heads series may provide a new novelty for otaku viewers. The number of anime productions adapted from light novels seems to be greater now than at any time in the past. And, as Bakemonogatari has amply proven, heavily rhetorical shows with limited (read: inexpensive) animation are still capable of becoming tremendously successful and profitable hits. So we can expect to see Japanese producers encourage the production of more anime that are inexpensive to animate yet still have tremendous audience and profit potential.
I certainly don’t expect to see anime of the future dominated by shows that prioritize rapid and ceaseless banter. In fact, I, for one, don’t want that to occur. I like seeing animated breathtaking action, captivating romance, and outrageous slapstick comedy. However, I’m not opposed to a minority trend of anime that replace action with conversation. I don’t know if the number of such shows that have already appeared constitute a loose collection of similarly styled productions or the beginning ripples of an approaching larger wave, but the mere fact that I can pose the question itself intrigues me.
The homepage for the Mahou Sensei Negima franchise has added a streaming trailer for the upcoming third “Mou Hitotsu no Sekai” OAD. The episode will be released on May 17th in limited edition copies of the 30th collected volume of Ken Akamatsu’s Mahou Sensei Negima manga series.
Source: Moon Phase
President and CEO of the anime dubbing studio Bang Zoom! Entertainment Eric P. Sherman has posted an editorial on Bang Zoom!’s AnimeTV website predicting the imminent demise of English dubbed anime, and, in general, the anime industry itself due to a decline in American consumer support for anime DVDs and the increase of digital piracy.
I’m posting this because it’s a major talking point in America’s anime fan community. While Mr. Sherman has a valid point to make, I personally think that his argument is highly reductive and flawed. The issue is far, far more complex than Mr. Sherman suggests, and his broad generalizations and numerous factual omissions create misleading statements.
Article provided by Rachel Lietzke
Japanese home entertainment producer/distributor Pony Canyon has launched a website announcing the development of an anime TV series based on Masakazu Ishiguro’s 2005 & ongoing comedy manga series Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru (“Nevertheless, This Town Continues”). The manga is a lighthearted slice-of-life story about the goings-on in a quiet Tokyo neighborhood cafeacute; called “Seaside.”
Another Working!!?
Source: Anime News Network
Japanese rock band Tsuru has announced plans to collaborate with manga artist Masaharu Noritsuke to develop a short anime based on Noritsuke’s comedy manga Sasurai Afro Tanaka. Noritsuke’s gag manga about a an odd schoolboy with a large afro premiered in 2002 as “Koko Afro Tanaka (High School Afro Tanaka). Its fourth series, “Sasurai Afro Tanaka,” (Wandering Afro Tanaka) will premiere next month. The three members of Tsuru are fans of the manga and have composed the song “Asa ga Kuru mae ni ~Sasurai Version~” in tribute to the manga. The song will get an anime music video featuring manga protagonist Hiroshi Tanaka.
The “Asa ga Kuru mae ni ~Sasurai Version~” single will go on sale in Japan on June 30. Limited first edition copies of the CD will include a bonus afro wig and ribbon.
Source: Anime News Network
In the wake of South Park’s infamous 200th episode, Time Magazine has compiled a list of “Top 10 Controversial Cartoons.” The 1997 “seizure incident” caused by Pocket Monster episode 38 ranks 7th on Time’s list.
Article provided by Daniel Zelter
Question:
I was wondering have there been any anime that have featured real Japanese music groups make an appearance in their series?
Sentai Filmworks has announced its acquisition of the 50 episode Golgo 13 television series originally broadcast in Japan in 2008. The first bilingual DVD collection will contain 13 episodes and retail at $59.98 beginning July 13.
Takao Saito’s Golgo 13 manga has been ongoing since 1968. The story has been adapted into two live action feature films, an anime feature film, and OVA, and the 2008 TV series. The iconic sniper Golgo 13 is one of anime/manga’s most recognized and respected characters.
Speaking as a long time Golgo fan, I’m thrilled by this license. I do wish Sentai the best of luck with it, though, as the Golgo 13 franchise has never achieved especially strong success in America.
