AnimeNation Anime News Blog

The ReVolution Of Evangelion fan site now hosts an exclusive 90 minute video interview with voice actress Tiffany Grant, the English language voice of Evangelion character Asuka Langley. The interview includes discussion of the original Eva TV series, the Director’s Cuts, End of Eva, her thoughts on Rebuild of Evangelion including surprising comments on how she thinks Rebuild 2.0 will be licensed, her chances on reprising her character, Eva on [adult swim], live-action Evangelion, and of course, Asuka.

Japanese publisher Enterbrain has announced that production studio AIC will animate a TV series adaptation of the popular PS2 dating simulation game Amagami (“Gentle Bite”). Yoshimasa Hiraike (Working!!) will direct “Amagami SS.” Onegai Teacher character designer Hiroaki Gohda will provide anime character designs. The voice cast from the original game will reprise their roles for the anime. The game went on sale in Japan on March 19, 2009, becoming an immediate hit. The TV anime will premiere this summer.

Famitsu now hosts a streaming teaser trailer for the upcoming anime.

Is this actually a surprise to anyone?

Source: Anime News Network

Reportedly this week’s issue of Weekly Shonen Magazine will formally announce the development of an anime adaptation of Tozen Ujiie’s four-panel gag manga Seitokai Yakuindomo. The manga revolves around Takatoshi Tsuda, the male vice-president of the all female (except him) student council of a high school attended by 524 girls and 28 boys.

Source: Anime News Network

Reportedly a “Joint OVA Utawarerumono x ToHeart2″ publicity event to be held in Yokohama, Japan, on May 23 will host a formal confirmation of development of a new ToHeart2 OVA production. The popular romance simulation game ToHeart 2 inspired a 2005 anime television series and OVA series in 2007, 2008, and 2009.

Source: Anime News Network

Prolific director Takashi Miike has been signed to helm a live action feature film based on the popular Nintama Rantaro manga and anime franchise. Creator Soubee Amako’s Rakudai Ninja Rantaro children’s manga premiered in 1986. An anime television series adaptation premiered in 1993. The television series is currently in its 18th season.

8 year-old Seishiro Kato will make his lead actor debut starring as the ninja-in-training Rantaro in the historical adventure comedy. Takeshi Miike has plenty of experience directing live action films based on manga & anime, having directed films including Naniwa Yuukyoden, Salaryman Kintaro, Crows Zero, Yatterman, and the MPD Psycho television drama. No release date for the movie has been determined yet.

Source: Anime News Network

A live action TV drama adaptation of Yu Takada and Hideki Go’s suspense manga series Tobo Bengoshi Narita Makoto (The Fujitive Lawyer, Makoto Narita) will premiere on the Fuji TV network in July. Yusuke Kamiji (Crows Zero, Kamen Rider G) will star in “Tobo Bengoshi” as Makoto Narita, a lawyer on the lamb, wanted for crimes he did not commit, who helps people in trouble while he searches for the true culprit behind the murder, arson, and embezzlement he’s accused of. The original manga was serialized from April 2007 to July 2008.

Source: Anime News Network & Tokyograph

Viz Media’s SigIKKI website has posted an interview with Dorohedoro creator Q Hayashida.

The Daily Yomiuri newspaper has published an interview with Solanin creator Inio Asano.

Source: Anime News Network

Question:
I understand that some animes have been heavily delayed because of the the injuries of their manga-ka. (most notably Beet the Vandel Buster and Hunter X Hunter) Having said that, what would happen to a popular, long-running anime if the manga-ka were to die before it got completed? What if Tite Kubo or Masashi Kishimoto were to die? What would happen to Bleach and Naruto? Would the anime simply stop, would they have somebody else finish the manga before finishing the anime, or would the anime-writers create their own ending? Is there any kind of historical precedent which would offer an answer to this question?

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Anime News Network has published an exclusive interview with Satoshi Nishimura, director of the new Trigun: Badlands Rumble motion picture.

The latest issue of issue of Hobby Japan magazine has announced the development of a Mazinkaiser SKL OVA project. The spin-off from Go Nagai’s Mazinger franchise premiered in 2001 and got a single episode sequel, Mazinkaiser: Shitou! Ankoku Daishogun (Mazinkaiser: Death! The Great General of Darkness), in 2003.

Source: Anime News Network

The new Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion ~ Kiseki no Birthday DVD archiving footage of the December 2009 Code Geass publicity event has just been released in Japan, and it includes a formal announcement of a new Code Geass anime production. “Code Geass Gaiden: Bokoku no Akito” (Code Geass Side Story: Ruined Country Akito) will depict a suicide mission conducted in war-torn Europe.

Source: Anime News Network

The Cartoon Network has announced plans to broadcast the Beyblade: Metal Fusion (Metal Fight Beyblade) anime television series in the United States. The 51 episode series will premiere on Canada’s YTV network on May 15. An American broadcast premiere hasn’t been scheduled yet. The franchise’s second series, Metal Fight Beyblade ~Baku~ premiered on Japanese television earlier this month.

Source: Toonzone

Oh sweet!

Yen Press has announced that its monthly manga anthology magazine Yen Plus will switch from print format to online digital distribution in August. The July 2010 issue will be the publication’s final print issue. The magazine will undergo additional content changes to be announced. Yen Press has hinted at the inclusion of light novels. The Yen Plus magazine launched in August 2008. Cost and accessibility for the digital version of Yen Plus has not been revealed yet.

Source: Anime News Network

Broadcaster TV Asahi and producer Toei Animation have both launched websites for this July’s new Digimon anime series, Digimon: Xros Wars (Cross Wars). The series will be the first new Digimon anime series since Digimon Savers ended in 2007.

Source: Anime News Network