Archive for June, 2010

Railgun OVA Announced

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

An advertising flyer included in this week’s Japanese release of the fifth volume of the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun (A Certain Scientific Railgun) manga adaptation reveals that a Railgun OVA will be released on October 29. The OVA is separate from the DVD exclusive episode 13′ scheduled for release on July 24. Kazuma Kamachi’s “Railgun” light novel series spawned an anime television series that premiered last year.

Source: Anime News Network

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Opening A Day

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

To refresh your memory or introduce you to an interesting opening animation sequence, I submit to you the opening of the little known 1998 TV series Yoiko. The nice opening theme is “Akaneiro no Omoi,” (Madder Red Memories) performed Yuriana Shano. It’s hard to imagine from this sweet opening that the show is actually a hilarious sex-gag comedy.

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Ask John: What’s the Background of Hobby Anime?

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Question:
Anime about kids collecting something seem to be everywhere. Where did these type of shows come from and exactly how many of them are there?

(more…)

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IS Anime Announced

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

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Japanese publisher Media Factory has announced the development of a TV anime adaptation of Izuru Yumizuru’s sci-fi harem light novel series IS ~Infinite Stratos~. The action/romantic comedy novel series is set in a futuristic international school that teaches girls how to use high-tech Infinite Stratos battle gear. Ichika Orimura, the only boy in the world compatible with the IS system, is recruited to the school.

Yumizuru’s first IS novel was published in May 2009. The fifth novel goes on sale on June 25.

Source: Anime News Network

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Fujio Akatsuka Biopic in Development

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

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Japanese film production studios Toei and Central Arts are now developing a live action feature film adaptation of Toshiki Takei’s book Akatsuka Fujio no Koto o Kaita no da!!. The book from the Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine editor is a biography of the late manga creator Fujio Akatsuka (1935-2008). Akatsuka’s comedy manga series Tensai Bakabon, Moeretsu Atarou, and Osomatsu-kun rank among Japan’s most beloved gag manga. His magical girl manga series Himitsu no Akko-chan has been adapted into three different anime TV series in three different decades.

Hideaki Sato (The Unbroken) will direct “Kore de Ii no da! Eiga Akatsuka Fujio” (This is Okay! Movie Akatsuka Fujio) from a script written by Ryoichi Kimizuka (Bayside Shakedown). Filming will start next month for a spring 2011 theatrical release.

Source: Nippon Cinema

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Kiss x Sis Blu-ray includes Pantsu

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

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The brand new Japanese Blu-ray release of KissXsis TV series volume 1 includes a life-sized replica of the striped panties Riko Suminoe wears in the series’ first episode.

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Opening A Day

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

To refresh your memory or introduce you to an interesting opening animation sequence, I submit to you the opening of the 1996 VS Knight Lamune & 40 Fire television series. The opening theme is “Mirai Gata Idol,” performed Kyoko Hikami & Yuko Miyamura.

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A For A-Girl

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

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I happened to come across and watch Madhouse’s 30 minute A-Girl OVA originally released on September 24, 1993. Despite being an early 90′s release, this production is firmly rooted in the whimsical and creative expressionist style of the 1980s. The adaptation of Fusako Kuramochi’s two volume shoujo romance manga from 1984 is most immediately unique because it contains no spoken dialogue. Similar to the later and slightly better known Omishi Magical Theater Risky Safety episode 16, the entire A-Girl OVA takes the form of a silent movie with sound effects, background music and several nice vocal pop songs, and the minimal necessary dialogue presented as text on screen.
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New Anime Licensor Needs Help

Monday, June 21st, 2010

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See article updates below

The prospective commercial anime distributor New Voice Productions, run “by fans, for fans” has announced a tentative plan to acquire domestic distribution rights to the independent sci-fi OAV Hoshizora Kiseki. The 2006 OVA was almost entirely written, drawn, and animated by illustrator Matsubara Toshikazu (Aquarian Age card game) and character designer Watanabe Aiko (SoulTaker, Yamamoto Yohko). The voice cast consists of Hosono Yumiko (Honoka Sakurai in Suzuka), Tomogiri Kyouko (Zou in Onegai My Melody), and Gouda Hozumi (Chirico Cuvie in Votoms, Leorio in Hunter x Hunter).

New Voice Productions is hoping to collect $3,500 in donations to cover the initial cost of licensing, translating, dubbing, authoring, replicating, and distributing a bilingual $9.95 commercial domestic DVD release.

Update:
Right Stuf Marketing & PR manager Alison L. Roberts stated publicly on June 21, 2010 that, “We have had only a preliminary conversation with a representative from New Wave, and at this point, we (Right Stuf) have no formal agreement in place for any production, marketing or distribution work.”

On June 24, 2010 New Voice Productions head “Dakota Smith” reported via Twitter, “All Donations have been refunded, we predict we will not reach our goal, bur we will continue looking for other ways to make this work.”

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New Cat Shit One Trailer

Monday, June 21st, 2010

Anime production studio Anima has released a new trailer for its Cat Shit One CG anime adaptation of Motofumi Kobayashi’s manga. The new trailer features new intro and outro footage of Packy & Botasky and reveals that a Cat Shit One: The Animated Series movie will hit YouTube on July 17.

This new trailer also appears to be slightly censored.
(more…)

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Hakuouki Second Season Announced

Monday, June 21st, 2010

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The homepage for the just concluded Hakuouki samurai drama television series has formally announced that the series will return this fall in a second season. The historical bishonen adventure drama is based on Idea Factory’s romance adventure PS2 game Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan.

Source: Anime News Network

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New Seikon no Qwaser Anime Announced

Monday, June 21st, 2010

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The homepage for the current Seikon no Qwaser television series has formally announced a “Seikon no Qwaser: Jyotei no Shouzou” (Qwaser of Stigmata: Portrait of the Empress) anime production. The new anime will obviously feature character Katja. The announcement doesn’t specify the length or format of the new production.

Source: Anime News Network

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Second Atashin’chi Movie Announced

Monday, June 21st, 2010

Atashin'chi

A 40 minute long 3D anime movie adaptation of Eiko Kera’s domestic comedy manga Atashin’chi will hit Japanese theaters on November 13. The best selling, ongoing manga premiered in 1994. It was adapted into a successful 330 episode television series that aired from 2002 until last year. A feature length anime film premiered in November 2003

Source: Anime News Network

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Anime Voice Actors to Appear at AnimeLand Makiba

Monday, June 21st, 2010

Veteran voice actors Michael McConnohie and Melodee M. Spevack are scheduled to be guests at the AnimeLand Makiba convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 16-18. Michael McConnohie’s extensive credits include Haré+Guu, Vampire Hunter D, Tenchi Muyo, Robotech, Naruto, Rurouni Kenshin, Last Exile, Cowboy Bebop, and many others. Melodee M. Spevack credits include Cowboy Bebop, Tenchi Muyo, Ergo Proxy, Last Exile, Rayearth, Paranoia Agent, and many other shows.

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IG Anticipates its First Annual Loss

Monday, June 21st, 2010

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IG Port, the parent company of the anime studios Xebec and Production I.G, has announced that it expects to face a 527 million yen ($5.8 million USD) loss for the fiscal year that ended in May. The loss will be IG’s first since its stock went public. The company cites a 201 million yen ($2.2 million USD) decline in revenue, 146 million yen ($1.6 million USD) owed to IG which it doesn’t expect its debtors to actually pay, and 32 million yen ($350,000 USD) in costs associated with moving the IG Port and Production I.G offices. IG Port’s final fiscal report for the past fiscal year will be released on July 9.

At least it’s not entirely due to declining sales revenue.

Source: Anime News Network

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