Sentai Filmworks has announced its acquisition of domestic distribution rights to the currently airing 12 episode Yumekui Merry television series. Sentai will tentatively distribute the series under the title “Dream Eater Merry.”
This really feels fitting as a Sentai acquisition. Feel free to interpret that as my opinion.
The homepage for this summer’s historical fiction television series Ikoku Meiro no Croisée has added a streaming trailer. Anime studio Satelight (Guin Saga, Shugo Chara) is animating the adaptation of Hinata Takeda’s manga. Kenji Yasuda (Shugo Chara) directs.
I wasn’t fully charmed by Victorian Romance Emma or Taisho Yakyuu Musume, but this looks absolutely charming.
Source: Anime News Network
Warner Bros. has released a full theatrical trailer for its upcoming CG anime feature film Tofu Kozo (Tofu Boy). The adaptation of Natsuhiko Kyogoku’s novel Tofu Kozo Sugoroku-dochu Furidashi will hit Japanese theaters on April 28 in traditional 2D and stereoscopic 3D.
Source: Anime News Network
Confirming beyond any doubt the fact that anime studio Gonzo is returning to the world of its 2003 fantasy adventure television series Last Exile, an official website for the Last Exile ~Ginyoku no Fam~ (Last Exile: Fam of the Silver Wing) anime series has launched. The series will introduce a new cast and story set in the same world as the 2003 anime series. Original series director Koichi Chigira, character designer Range Murata, and production designer Makoto Kobayashi will reprise their staff roles in the new series’ production.
Source: Moon Phase
Living legend manga creator Leiji Matsumoto has informed Star Blazers.com that “There is a live-action Galaxy Express in development now, and there are Japanese actresses who look like Maetel and Emeraldas. However, finding Harlock is the weak point at the moment. I’m thinking there is no other way but to look at a variety of actors abroad.” The tentative Japanese film comes on the heels of a successful 2010 live action film adaptation of Matsumoto’s Space Cruiser Yamato.
Matsumoto also revealed that a new anime series based on his work, Zero Desigze (pronounced “Zero De-size”) will tentatively premier later this year, most likely as an OVA series, but possibly as a TV series.
Source: Anime News Network
Hisao Maki, younger brother of the late manga creator Ikki Kajiwara, has announced plans to produce a live action feature film adaptation of Kajiwara’s iconic wrestling manga/anime Tiger Mask. The 1968 manga ran 14 volumes and was adapted into a 105 episode anime TV series in 1969, which was followed by a 33 episode sequel series and a 1970 anime feature film. The story of an orphan who becomes a feared and respected professional wrestler in order to earn money to support the orphanage where he grew up has become a modern Japanese cultural icon. The live action film will start shooting in May for a November release.
Source: Anime News Network
The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article on the prevelance of high-tech bidet toilets in Japan.
To refresh your memory or introduce you to an interesting opening animation sequence, I offer the fun fifth opening of the 1981 Urusei Yatsura TV series. The opening theme is “Rock the Planet,” sung by Steffanie.
Question:
I have noticed recently a trend that has been showing up in DC and Marvel animated films. It is the cut to the cheek during a fight, usually to someone who thinks they are untouchable. I recall the “cut on the cheek” cliche as something I remember being in anime for several decades at this point. An example can be found in, well, nearly every action based anime in the last 20 years at least and some non-action-centric anime. Does this cliche have some significance or history to it? Is anime or manga really where it started, or is it something anime adopted from something else?
Publisher ASCII Media Works has announced an anime adaptation of Hikaru Sugii’s mystery light novel series Kami-sama no Memo-cho (God’s Notebook). The ongoing novel series stars “NEET detective girl” Alice and her assistant, high-school boy Narumi Fujishima. (“NEET” is the Japanese reference to someone “Not engaged in Education, Employment, or Training,” in other words, a non-productive slacker or “hikkikomori” shut-in.)
Source: Anime News Network
In addition to Kami-sama no Memo-cho, ASCII Media Works has also announced an anime adaptation of Sagu Aoyama’s sports comedy light novel series Ro-Kyu-Bu! The ongoing novel series stars a high school boy that coaches a elementary school’s basketball team that has five girl players.
Source: Anime News Network
In addition to anime adaptations of Ro-Kyu-Bu! and Kami-sama no Memo-cho, ASCII Media Works has also announced an anime adaptation of Minoru Kawakami’s sci-fi light novel series Kyokaisen-jou no Horizon (Upper Boundary of the Horizon). Sunrise will animate.
Although I know nothing about this franchise, I’m already getting a bit of a Koukaku no Legios vibe from it.
Source: Anime News Network
The March issue of Newtype Magazine that goes on sale in Japan this week will formally announce an anime TV series adaptation of Broccoli’s 2010 PSP romance game franchise Uta no Prince-sama. A-1 Pictures (Fractale, Sora no Woto) will animate the “reverse-harem” comedy about a girl attending performing arts school alongside a variety of hopeful male idols. Yuu Kou (Loveless, Monochrome Factor) will direct.
Source: Anime News Network
Shogakukan has announced that anime studio Shaft’s anime adaptation of Koji Kumeta’s 1998 gag manga Katteni Kaizo will be an OVA released on April 27.
Source: Moon Phase
