Question:
Tenchi Muyo was one of my first anime series to watch (and one of my favorites) so i am curios about the new series Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari, starring Tenchi’s half brother. Has it completed it’s releases in Japan and how long of a turnaround to bring it to the US? Didn’t the 3rd oav series released by Funi do well enough for them to grab it?
Although Media Blasters has previously coordinated free streams of anime episodes through other sites, the distributor has revamped its website to offer free streaming anime directly. Media Blasters presently offers free, ad-free English dubbed sample episodes of the first episodes of Queen’s Blade, Ikkitousen: Dragon Destiny, and Kanokon.
Taking the Gundam anime franchise in a completely new direction, Bandai has announced the development of a three episode mini-series titled “Mokei Senshi Gunpla Builders Beginning G,” that will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Mobile Suit Gundam plastic model franchise and serve as a promotion for the upcoming “Beginning Gundam” line of plastic model kits. Unlike the previous sci-fi Gundam anime, the “Gunpla” series will occur in the present day real world and star Haru Irei, a teen boy who develops a love for collecting and building Gundam plastic model kits. Gundam anime production studio Sunrise will animate with Kou Matsuo (Kure-nai, Red Garden) directing and Yousuke Kuroda (Hellsing, Gundam OO) scripting. The first episode will screen at this summer’s Gundam Super Expo publicity event. The following episodes will air on the NHK BS11 network.
Over 400 million Gundam plastic model kits have sold in Japan since the line premiered in July 1980.
Setting aside blatant commercialism, we’ve seen Gunpla figure prominently in Genshiken and Keroro Gunso, so it makes sense to finally see them in a literal Gundam anime. And after 31 years, this is a neat way to continue taking the Gundam anime franchise in new directions.
Source: Anime News Network
Reportedly three of the four Japanese DVD/BD volumes of the current Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei (known in America as “The Tatami Galaxy”) television series will include unaired mini-episodes. The first home video volume, which goes on sale in Japan on August 20, will include an exclusive 7 minute episode and an exclusive guide to the city of Kyoto. The series’ third and fourth home video volumes, available October 22 and November 26 respectively, will also include exclusive 7 minute mini-episodes. The series is currently being simulcast online with English subtitles by FUNimation.
Source: Anime News Network
Question:
With the grow of E-readers like the iPad, Kindle, and sony reader, will anime companys try to get there Manga to be read on them like books is at a charge.
Following an unspecified number of staff layoffs in February 2009, Viz Media has again laid off a number of employees. Publishers Weekly reports that Viz Media laid off as many as 55 employees at its San Francisco headquarters and closed its New York branch that employed 5 people. Viz Media has confirmed a mass layoff, but has not confirmed the exact number of employees laid off. If Publishers Weekly’s numbers are correct, the downsize would account for roughly 40% of Viz Media’s staff.
The homepage for the Sora no Woto television series is now streaming a 2:12 trailer for the home video exclusive episode 7.5 that will be included on the series’ fourth DVD/BD volume, which goes on sale June 23.
Source: Moon Phase
The Fuji-Q HighLand amusement park located near the foot of Mt. Fuji has announced plans to develop an “Evangelion: World – Life-Size EVA-01 Construction Project” attraction that will include a life-sized Evangelion robot cockpit, a life-size figure of Evangelion character Kaworu Nagisa, a “video corner,” museum, gift shop, and, as the main highlight, a life-sized recreation of the Evangelion episode one scene in which Shinji Ikari first faces the Evangelion Unit 01 robot. The attraction will feature a life-sized bust of the head and shoulders of the Evangelion Unit 01 mecha. The Evangelion attraction will tentatively open on July 23.
The Fuji-Q HighLand amusement park has previously hosted two attractions devoted to the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise, including one highlighted by a life-sized Gundam robot in prone position.
Source: Anime News Network
The Hollywood Reporter has published an interview with Light Stage CEO Jules Urbach regarding Urbach’s development of a CG feature film adaptation of Toei’s Gaiking anime franchise.
Maybe I’ve misunderstood something because I got the impression from previous reports that Toei was developing CG Gaiking and Captain Harlock movies, and Light Stage’s Gaiking movie was a separate American film project spun off from the development of the Japanese film. Now it seems clear that the American produced film and Toei’s planned film are the same project.
Source: Anime Briefs
Kodansha has announced that a live action television mini-series adaptation of Aya Tsuge’s slice-of-life manga series My Name is Noda (Noda to Moshimasu) will air on the NHK network next month. Three 5-minute long episodes will air on Sunday afternoons from June 5 to 19. The presently ongoing manga depicts the “wonderfully simple life” of an ordinary female college student studying Russian literature.
Source: Anime News Network
Question:
Watching “giant killing” made me wonder, who is the oldest manga/anime hero you came across? And please dont include immortals or someone started the manga as a kid and grown through the series.
The advertising obi found on new Japanese copies of the eighth volume of Kaworu Watashiya’s Kodomo no Jikan comedy manga reveal that the manga’s ninth compiled volume will be released in January 2011 in a limited edition that includes a new OAD.
Source: Anime News Network
This summer, “lifestyle and media brand” Tokyopop will film an internet reality show based on its tour across America in search of “America’s Greatest Otaku.” The filming tour will consist of Tokyopop CEO Stu Levy, the film crew, and six selected American otaku visiting conventions, bookstores, and libraries nationwide from July through August to meet anime fans, promote Tokyopop, and select a representative “greatest otaku” in each city the tour visits. Video of the tour will be broadcast online, culminating in an online public vote to crown one of the selected city representatives as “America’s greatest otaku.”
Publisher’s Weekly hosts an interview with Tokyopop CEO Stu Levy regarding the planned nationwide tour.
Source: Anime News Network
Iconic illustrator & painter Frank Frazetta passed away yesterday in Fort Myers, Florida, of complications following a stroke. He was 82. Frazetta’s work included comics, movie posters, and well-known cover illustrations for pulp fantasy novel franchises including Conan, Tarzan, and John Carter of Mars. Animation fans may be most familiar with Frazetta’s work through his 1983 film collaboration with animator/director Ralph Bakshi, Fire and Ice.
Source: ICv2
Sentai Filmworks has formally announced its acquisition of translation & distribution rights to last year’s 26 episode sword & sorcery adventure fantasy TV series Guin Saga. The story about an amnesiac warrior with a leopard head who assists two royal siblings recover their conquered country is based on late author Kaoru Kurimoto’s 151 volume novel series.
Sentai has not announced a tentative release date or format, nor whether the domestic release will be subtitled, dubbed, or bilingual.
