AnimeNation Anime News Blog

The homepage for next week’s late night “Noitamina” drama anime TV series Kuragehime has added a streaming teaser trailer. The award winning story revolves around a young woman who lives in a women-only apartment. After she invites a stylish lady friend to become her short-term roommate, she discovers that the stylish “lady” isn’t a lady at all. The series will premiere on October 14.

An unconventional cast and an unconventional art design could go either way. I’m hoping that this turns out to be a pleasant and welcome surprise.

Source: Anime News Network

T.O. Entertainment has announced plans for a spring 2011 release of an OVA adaptation of illustrator Keiko Sootome and writer Toru Hosokawa’s upcoming picture book Baka Mukashi Banashi (Silly Folk Tales). The picture book, which depicts comical parodies of traditional Japanese folk tales, will hit stores this fall.

The book cover is obviously a parody of the opening animation of the long running Manga Nippon Mukashi Banashi anime television series.

Source: Anime News Network

The homepage for the two live action Gantz movies has added its first full theatrical trailer. The first film adaptation of Hiroya Oku’s sci-fi action manga will hit Japanese theaters on January 29, 2011.

Japanese anime production company Studio Kuma is producing the animation for a join Japanese-Korean “psychic horror” anime film titled “Timing.” The Nerima Animation Association is now streaming a six-minute promotional video for the film. The movie is due out in 2012.

In my experience, Japanese horror films are okay while Korean horror films suck, so I’m hoping this leans Japanese rather than Korean.

Source: Anime News Network

Acclaimed visionary animator and director Koji Morimoto directed the music video for “Super Speed,” the second single from Japanese pop group Masterlink. The “Super Speed” CD single officially went on sale in Japan today. Morimoto is the co-founder of anime production studio 4°C and has previously directed animated music videos including The Bluetones’ “Four Day Weekend,” Ken Ishii’s “Extra,” and Ayumi Hamasaki’s “Connected.”

Source: Anime News Network

An unconfirmed page from a retailer guide for Japanese book retailers encourages book sellers to feature Densetsu no Yusha no Densetsu author Takaya Kagami’s ongoing light novel series Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi (Black Rabbit the Occasional Demon) because it has an anime adaptation in development. The supernatural school romantic comedy stars high school boy Taito Kurogane who discovers that he’s been “poisoned” by a female vampire.

My, sure are a lot of vampires around lately. I suppose that if moé is dying, something’s got to replace it.

Source: Anime News Network

The Japanese homepage for the Pocket Monster movie franchise has announced that the series’ 14th film, the first film tied to the new Pocket Monster: Best Wishes television series, will premiere next summer.

Source: Anime News Network

Japanese publisher Kodansha has announced its intention to gradually take over publishing of its contining domestic titles currently translated and published by Del Rey, starting December 1st. While Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC will translate and publish its titles itself, Del Rey parent company Random House will continue to distribute the books to retailers.

The titles which Kodansha will take over are:

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To refresh your memory or introduce you to an interesting opening animation sequence, I offer the opening of the Cho Kosoku Galvion TV series from 1984. The theme song is “Lonely Chaser” sung by Riyuko Tanaka.

Question:
Having recently listed my nominations of the finest anime television series from 2000 to 2010, I thought that a similar list of the decade’s most unrecognized and under appreciated TV anime would be an appropriate follow-up. These are the past decade’s interesting, unusual, exceptional shows that I’d personally recommend to American fans longing for contemporary anime looking for buried treasures and worthwhile shows just a bit off the beaten path.

(more…)

The homepage for Kentarou Miura’s Berserk manga has begun streaming two of the five new anime teaser trailers narrated by singer/actor Gackt. The precise format of the new Berserk production – TV, OVA, movie – has not been revealed yet.

The CG footage of Zod in the second teaser looksa bit stiff, but there’s a good chance that the footage on display was actually produced two years ago and may not reflect the production quality of the project in its current status.

Source: Anime News Network

Crunchyroll has announced plans to simulcast the upcoming Otome Yokai Zakuro anime television series. The alternate history supernatural adventure series will premiere on Crunchyroll on October 4, shortly after it’s Japanese broadcast premiere.

The November issue of Jump Square magazine that officially goes on sale in Japan next week will formally announce the development of 4 anime shorts based on Jigoku no Misawa’s gag comedy manga Kakko Kawaii Sengen! The four weekly animated segments will air within the Saki-yomi Jum-Bang! television series beginning November 5.

Source: Anime News Network

Canadian animation producer & distributor Nelvana Enterprises has announced plans to develop and distribute two new animated series titled “Bakugan: Mechtanium Surge,” and “Beyblade: Metal Masters.” Both series would be extensions of the existing Japanese animated programs; however, new seasons of Bakugan and Beyblade have yet to be announced in Japan. While Nelvana co-produced last year’s Metal Fight Beyblade anime TV series and distributed the show in North America after its Japanese premiere, Nelvana also comissioned the development of the second and third Bakugan television series for premiere broadcast in North America.

Source: Anime News Network

CG animator IKEDA has just released an impressive mecha action music video for the Vocaloid Megurine Luka song “Corruption Garden.”

Source: Rakugakidou