AnimeNation Anime News Blog

The Meiji confection company has commissioned anime studio Madhouse to produce a series of original anime TV commercials promoting the new grape, Mandarin orange, and fruit blend flavors of Meiji’s gummy candies. The first of the ads was directed by Rintaro (X, Metropolis) with character designs from Yusuke Nakamura (Yojuhan Shinwa Taikei) and a theme song performed by GReeeeN. A second TV spot will premiere in July.

Source: Anime News Network

Reportedly Yuki Suetsugu’s josei (Lady’s) manga Chihayafuru is being adapted into an anime television series for an October premiere. The multi-award winning ongoing manga stars a teen girl who plays competitive karuta, a traditional Japanese card game.

Source: Anime News Network

Aniplex has announced that its forthcoming release of the Rurouni Kenshin motion picture and OVAs on BD will be distributed simultaneously in Japan and America. The 1999 Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuioku Hen OVA series, known in America as “Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal” will be released on $81.98 bilingual Blu-ray on August 24. The 2001 Rurouni Kenshin: Seiso Hen OVA, known in America as “Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection, will be released on $69.98 bilingual Blu-ray on September 21. The 1997 Rurouni Kenshin movie will be released on $69.98 bilingual Blu-ray on October 26. While the discs will be the same for the Americand & Japanese market, the American releases will include English translated booklets.

Source: Anime News Network

Aniplex of America has announced word that Adult Swim will begin broadcasting the 2010 Durarara!! television series on Saturday evenings beginning in June.

Source: Anime News Network

A live-action TV series adaptation of Fumi Saimon’s 2006-2008 drama manga Hanawake no Yon Shimai (Four Hanawake Sisters) will premiere in July. The story revolves around four adult sisters who all have bad luck with men.

Source: Anime News Network

To refresh your memory or introduce you to an interesting opening animation sequence, I submit the opening of 1999′s Koutetsu Tenshi Kurumi TV series. The opening theme is “Kiss Kara Hajimaru Miracle” performed by The Steel Angels (Atsuko Enomoto, Masayo Kurata, and Rie Tanaka).

Question:
Given the track record of Kyoto Animation’s previous shows, will Nichijou follow the success of shows like Lucky Star and K-On!?

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Konami has released the opening animation for its upcoming Busou Shinki Battle Masters Mk. 2 PSP action game. Konami launched its line of Busou Shinki Battle Rondo action figures compatible with a PC game in September 2006. The second game, Battle Masters Mk. 2, will premiere on September 1, 2011.

Source: Anime News Network

Production studio BONES has released a full theatrical trailer for the first of its six Towa no Quon movies. The first film will get a limited theatrical release on June 18 before hitting DVD and Blu-ray on August 26.

Source: Anime News Network

Deadline reports that tentative director Albert Hughes has bowed out of helming Warner Bros.’ planned live-action Akira movie franchise. Hughes reportedly departed amicably due to “creative differences,” and Warner still intends to “fast-track” the film production despite losing its director and, last week, shutting down the film’s pre-visualization department.

After a swirl of rumors earlier this week spawned by director Takeshi Miike’s statement that his next film will be an adaptation of a Nintendo DS courtroom drama game, Japanese film website Eiga.com has now confirmed that Miike will be directing a live-action adaptation of Capcom’s popular Gyakuten Saiban (known in America as “Phoenix Wright, Ace Attorney”) game series for the Toei motion picture studio. Hiroki Narimiya (Nana, Gokusen) will star as Ryuichi Naruhodo (“Phoenix Wright”). Takumi Saito (RoboGeisha) will play Reiji Mitsurugi (“Miles Edgeworth”), and Mirei Kiritani, Nino in the forthcoming Arakawa Under the Bridge live-action movie, will play Mayoi Ayasato (“Maya Fey”).

Reportedly the film will incorporate extensive visual effects to punch-up the courtroom scenes while the movie will feature signature lines from the game including “Igi Ari!” (“Objection!”) and “Kurae!” (“Take That!”). The film will start shooting immediately for an early 2012 release.

Source: Tokyograph

Korean television broadcaster SBS has announced that Hulu has acquired the rights to stream the Korean live-action television series adaptation of Hojo Tsukasa’s City Hunter manga. In the new series that premiered this past Wednesday, Lee Min-Ho stars as a lecherous former CIA agent who now works as a marksman for hire in present day Seoul. The original manga was set in mid 1980′s Tokyo.

Source: Anime News Network

Reportedly a live-action film adaptation of Young Magazine’s “most shameful… ultimate erotic comedy” manga story Yarisugi Companion to Atashi Monogatari (The Story of the Over-the-Top Companion and Me) is now in development. Akira Hiramoto’s 2008 gag manga revolves around an 18 year-old woman who begins working as a hostess at a hot spring resort. The film will start shooting next month for a September release.

Source: Anime News Network

Director Christopher C. Cowan and his independent film/stunt studio Thousand Pounds Action Company are now at work on a 20 minute fan film titled Naruto Shippuden: Dreamers Fight. The film is being shot on the Canon EOS 7D with a $4,000 budget and will be released later this summer. Cowan and company have just released an impressive new trailer.

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To refresh your memory or introduce you to an interesting opening animation sequence, I submit the fun first opening of the 2002 Full Moon wo Sagashite TV series. The opening theme is “I ♥ U” performed by THE*SCANTY.