During a press conference yesterday regarding the Toyama prefecture’s 2011 budget, Governor Takakazu Ishii revealed that the Nanto, Toyama based anime studio P.A. Works (Angel Beats!, Canaan) is now developing an anime television series titled “Mai no Maho to Katei no Hi” (Mai’s Magic and Family Day). The theme of the show will be the importance of family relationships. The series will premiere next February.
Source: Anime News Network
Madhouse has formally resumed production of the late Satoshi Kon’s original children’s anime film Yume-Miru Kikai. Character designer and chief animation director Yoshimi Itazu has been assigned the duties of acting director. Prior to Kon’s death on August 24 due to pancreatic cancer, Madhouse studio founder and CEO Masao Maruyama asserted that the studio would finish the film even if Kon was personally unable to supervise the complete production.
Source: Anime News Network
Musician Sinitus Tempo has released his “Awakened Beings EP,” a free, downloadable original tribute album to the manga and anime series Claymore.
The first theatrical Winnie the Pooh movie from Walt Disney Animation in over 35 years is an original hand-drawn feature opening July 15, 2011. Burny Mattinson, key animator on the 1974 short “Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too” serves as senior story artist.
I grew up with two bears, Winnie the Pooh and Paddington. I’ve always been a fan of A.A. Milne’s literary Pooh, but the singular problem I’ve always had with Disney’s adaptation is its voices. How come Christopher Robin sounds British but none of the critters do?
Source: Ain’t It Cool News
To refresh your memory or introduce you to an interesting opening animation sequence, I offer the highly unusual opening of 2008′s Kurenai television series. The opening theme song is Minami Kuribayashi’s “Crossing Day.”
Question:
I am currently watching 11Eyes. The show is ok so far, but I was wondering if there are other shows similar to 11Eyes, but none of the characters go crazy or psycho, and the bonds of friends are still tested, yet prove to be stronger to the end?
Yen Press has launched a new talent search. Aspiring graphic artists that have never been published before are encouraged to submit a 32 page comic story by January 3. Yen Press may offer publishing contracts to promising artists. See the Yen Press homepage for specific submission guidelines.
Ten years after its blockbuster hit Japanese theatrical premiere, the cult favorite Japanese action/drama film Battle Royale is finally coming to America. Anchor Bay Entertainment has secured US distribution rights to the forthcoming 3D conversion of the 2000 film and its 2003 sequel Battle Royale II: Requiem. The 3D version of Battle Royale will hit Japanese theaters later this month, on the 20th. Anchor Bay expects to release the films in America next year.
Source: Tokyograph
To refresh your memory or introduce you to an interesting opening animation sequence, I offer the opening of 2008′s Hatenkou Yuugi television series. The catchy opening theme song is “Heartbreaking Romance” sung by Kanako Ito.
Question:
With your knowledge of anime, maybe you can help me identifiy an 80′s ova/movie that I’ve forgoten the name of. First of the two main charaters is a girl. She’s a fairy I think, all dressing in pink (kind of a wrestling outfit) and has wings of energy that appear when she wants to fly. The second character is male. He has short dark hair, uses gadgets and wears mecha armor. Not sure how the story starts, but the second half is the two main characters on a different planet taking part in some intergalactic wrestling match. The male character is wearing an all white mecha suit with a letter printed on his helmet. “M,” I think. I believe it was about 50 min. long and was a one-shot ova with an art style similar to Outlanders. I saw it via VHS in ’88, so it was released sometime before then.
Sentai Filmworks will release the first of two bilingual DVD & BD volumes of last year’s sci-fi action comedy anime series Needless on February 15. The domestic release of the series will include all 6 two-minute long “Secret of Saint Lilly Academy” bonus shorts that were exclusive to the Japanese BD release.
A short trailer for next month’s Macross Frontier Music Clip Shu: Nyankuri music video collection has appeared on YouTube. The 40 minute collection of music videos will hit Japanese DVD & BD on December 15.
Source: Anime News Network
Sega has formally announced that its Senjo no Valkyria 3: Unrecorded Chronicles PSP game will get a two episode OVA series spin-off titled “Senjo no Valkyria 3: Ta ga Tame no Juso.” The game will be released in Japan on January 27.
The first Valkyria Chronicles game was adapted into a 26 episode anime television series last year.
Source: Anime News Network
Limited edition copies of the eighth volume of Shinichi Kimura’s light novel series Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? (Is This a Zombie?) will include a an unbroadcast episode of the upcoming Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? anime television series. The novel with DVD will be released on June 3, 2011.
Source: Anime News Network
Twitch has published a highly positive, spoiler-free review of Studio Ghibli’s latest film Karigurashi no Arrietty.
