AnimeNation Anime News Blog

In an interview with Publishers Weekly, writer and editor Sean Michael Wilson reveals the second of four original English language manga he’s writing for Kodansha International. The first book, Hagakure: The Code of the Samurai, a manga adaptation of Yamamoto Tsunetomo’s 1716 book of samurai philosophy In the Shadow of Leaves, was first announced in May. Wilson’s second manga will be an English language adaptation of author Shoko Tendo’s autobiography Yakuza Moon (Yakuza na Tsuki), a memoir about her difficult life as the daughter of a yakuza.

All four of Wilson’s manga will initially be published in Japan, in English language. Kodansha will later distribute the books internationally.

Source: Anime News Network

The DC Anime Club will screen Gurren Lagann The Movie: Childhoods End and American comic artist & animator Fred Perry’s full length independently produced animated feature Gold Digger: The Movie on August 21 at 2:00pm at the Martin Luthur King, Jr Memorial Library in Washington, DC. The event is free and open to the public for ages 13 and up.

To refresh your memory or introduce you to an interesting opening animation sequence, I offer the opening of the 2004 Fuujin Monogatari TV series. The theme song is “Kaze no Uta” performed by YuU.

Last February Japanese game developer Tecmo announced that Super Black Jack character Rio would be getting her own anime. Now word comes that the production will be a 2011 television series titled “Rio -Rainbow Gate!-”

Source: Ponican

When the Japanese Bandai Channel website began streaming the 2005 Shinshaku Sengoku Eiyuu Densetsu Sanada Jyuu Yuushi anime television series last month, the online distribution was promoted with an announcement that a second TV series would premiere this October. Now Bandai has removed the announcement and made a public apology, stating that the announcement was an error. The headline promoting the 2005 series has been changed from “Second Series in October” to “This anime was created by the Legend of the Galactic Heroes staff.”

Source: Anime News Network

The September issue of Bessatsu Margaret magazine announced this week that a live action film adaptation of Kazune Kawahara’s shoujo romance manga High School Debut (Koukou Debut) has been green-lit. The 2003 to 2008 manga series is the story of Haruna, a high school girl who recruits a boy named Yoh to manage her transition from a tomboy into a feminine girl. Viz Media distributes the complete series in English.

Source: Anime News Network

The debut music video from “Rockjazz” musician ELEW (Eric Lewis) is a powerful piano performance of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” The video was directed by acclaimed Japanese film director Ryuhei Kitamura (Versus, Azumi, Midnight Meat Train).

I usually don’t like to show off, but grant me an occasional exception. After nearly 21 years, yesterday, with the assistance of a friend in Japan, I completed my collection of Cream Lemon, Shin Cream Lemon, and Cream Lemon: Ami Sorekara hardcover film comics. I bought the first one way back on September 25, 1989. I’ve been picking up additional ones as I could find them ever since. They’re not all first editions – in fact, most of the 16 volume first series are second editions. And not all of them have their obi, but especially considering that I’m an American collector, I’m still pretty darn proud of this collection, regardless.

The collection includes 16 volumes in the first series, 8 volumes in the second series, and 4 Ami Sorekara volumes. The photo includes three additional hardcover film comics: Cream Lemon Special: Dark, Tabidachi – Ami Shuushou and Lemon Angel.

Below the fold is my entire collection of Cream Lemon anime books (with the exception of the Ami Sorekara movie program, which I seem to have misplaced).

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To refresh your memory or introduce you to an interesting opening animation sequence, I offer the opening of the 1985 Dirty Pair TV series. The theme song is “Russian Roulette” by Meiko Nakahara.

Question:
Within the past year or so, the Region 1 anime industry had seen the licensing and release of titles like the Fist of the North Star movie, TV series, and Raoh Gaiden anime, the two Galaxy Express 999 movies, the Project A-Ko movie, the Golgo 13 TV series, Lupin the 3rd First Contact, Sea Prince & the Fire Child, and most recently Turn-A Gundam and the Ghost Sweeper Mikami TV series, and there’s probably one or two that I missed. Not only that, but Raoh Gaiden did well enough to get an English dub and Blu-Ray release; Golgo 13 TV received an English dub right away; and we’re mainly getting the Fist TV series since the movies seemingly did very well for Discotek.

Could all of this be a potential resurgance in the licensing of not only older anime, but recent anime based on older properties? Looking back even a couple of years it would have been insane to think that this many old-school properties would be returning to the market. Could we possibly be seeing more old-school anime licenses in the future?

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The Japanese homepage for the MonHun Nikki Pokapoka Airu Mura PSP game is now streaming the first episode of the MonHun Nikki Girigiri Airu Mura Airu Kiki Ippatsu anime television series.

The .hack//Quantum OVA will premiere with screenings during Bandai Visual’s touring Anime Fes. “VS” publicity event that will hit Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya beginning November 27.

Source: Moon Phase

“I am hell.”

The first episode of the three-episode Mazinkaizer SKL OVA series will premiere with screenings during Bandai Visual’s touring Anime Fes. “VS” publicity event that will hit Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya beginning November 27.

Source: Anime News Network

A new, second trailer for creator/writer/animator Naoya Ishikawa’s independent yuri OVA series Kuttsukiboshi has been added to YouTube. The first episode will go on sale in Japan on the 16th with early copies available at the Comic Market 78 convention from the 13-15. The second, concluding episode will be released next summer.

Source: Anime News Network

Japanese publisher Kadokawa has announced that Hitoma Iruma’s humorous light novel series Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko (Electro-magnetic Wave Woman & Adolescent Man) will be getting an anime television series adaptation. The novel series premiered in January 2009 and currently has five volumes. The story stars ordinary teen boy Makoto Niwa who lives in a town rumored to be under survaliance by aliens. Makoto’s female cousin Erio Towa claims to be an alien, herself.

Source: Anime News Network