AnimeNation Anime News Blog

3-5 minute long weekly episodes of a “Busou Shinki: Moon Angel” anime series will be distributed commercially on the Japanese Playstation Network beginning the first week of September. The coming of age story will follow a young Japanese boy who plays Konami’s online battle game Buso Shinki. Konami launched its Buso Shiki franchise of collectable action figures compatible with an online PC game in September 2006. The Busou Shinki Battle Masters Mk. 2 game for the PSP will be released on September 1. The second PSP game includes an original anime opening, seen below:

Source: Anime News Network

The advertising obi found on new copies of the eighth volume of Ritz Kobayashi’s mahjong manga Saki report that a new Saki anime television project is in development. The manga about a team of high school girl mahjong players was adapted into a popular 25 episode anime television series in 2009.

Source: Anime News Network

To refresh your memory or introduce you to an interesting opening animation sequence, I submit the nicely edited opening of the 2006 Himawari! TV series. The opening theme is “Taiyou no Kakera” performed by Ryoko Shiraishi.

Question:
Hey John, It’s Jenna! (Remember me?) Long time no see!!! I thought I’d throw this out there, considering I haven’t watched any anime in, oh, 4-5 years or so… (Almost since leaving AN in ’06!) You always had almost the exact same tastes that I do when it comes to anime (moe, moe, slice of life and more moe)… So, since I would like to try to get into a series or two again (for old times sake) I’d like your advice about what is out there, available right now, that I might like to watch. Any suggestions?

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Publisher Kadokawa Shoten has announced the development of an anime feature film based on Hiro Arikawa’s Toshokan Senso (Library War) light novel series. The award winning novel series is set in 2019 when a private “Library Defense Force” engages in organized civil wars to defend Japanese literature from staunch censorship proponents. Production I.G adapted the novel series into a 12 episode anime television series in 2008.

Honestly, I still can’t fathom how anyone actually takes this story seriously.

Source: Anime News Network

The August issue of Monthly Gundam Ace magazine that goes on sale in Japan this Saturday will formally announce the development of an anime adaptation of Yoshikazu Yasuhiko’s manga series Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin. The manga is a reinterpretation of Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino’s original 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam television series. Yoshikazu Yasuhiko was the character designer for the 1979 anime series. The Gundam: The Origin manga launched in 2001. It will conclude in the August issue of Monthly Gundam Ace magazine.

Source: Anime News Network

New TV ads for next month’s Kamisama no Memocho and Ro-Kyu-Bu! anime television series have appeared on YouTube. The new adds reveal significant new footage. The school bishoujo sports comedy Ro-Kyu-Bu! will premiere on July 1. The Kamisama no Memocho detective story will premiere on July 2.

Source: Anime News Network

IMAGI Holdings has confirmed that the company has formally wiped its planned CG Gatchaman film off its slate. The Imagi Animation studio announced plans to develop a CG adaptation of Tatsunoko’s Science Ninja Team Gatchaman anime franchise in 2007. Following the financial failure of the studio’s 2009 Astro Boy film, the Imagi Animation studio was closed. As of May 2011, Imagi Holdings has officially and financially removed the Gatchaman production from its future business operations.

Source: Crunchyroll

Although not especially unknown or forgotten, here’s a reminder that 2003′s Gunslinger Girl has an exceptionally well composed opening animation sequence. The theme song is The Delgados’ “The Light Before We Land.”

Question:

Do you think the whole disaster in Japan will change anime/manga content in any way? Censorship maybe will control some “sensitive” storys? Like the manga Hakuryu Legend yakuza that got stopped due to it focused on the “dark side of the nuclear power industry.” Beside this “change” maybe the type of genres will somewhat take new directions?

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Sentai Filmworks has announced its acquisition of digital & home video distribution rights to the Mardock Scramble anime film trilogy. The first film in the trilogy adaptation of the sci-fi action novel series by Tow Ubukata premiered last October. The second film will open in Japanese theaters on September 3. Sentai Filmworks will release the first film online and on bilingual DVD this September. A domestic Blu-ray release will follow in early 2012.

Variety reports that American cable TV network Starz has approved plans to develop a live-action TV series based on Ryoe Tsukimura & Koichi Mashimo’s 2001 anime television series Noir. Producing partners Sam Raimi & Rob Tapert (Evil Dead, Spartacus: Blood and Sand) have been developing the project since last year.

Japanese publisher Shogakukan has released its latest Shonen Sunday original anime TV commercial, this one animated by Production I.G and featuring Hiroshi Fukuda’s historical adventure manga series Joju Senjin!! Mushibugyo. Shogakukan has been producing regular anime TV spots promoting Shonen Sunday magazine since September 1999. Several of the ads feature manga titles that have never had any other anime adaptations, including Karakuri Circus, Dandoh Xi, Wild Life, and Rinne.

The homepage for next month’s Manyu Hikencho television series has unleashed a new censored trailer. The risqué historical action series based on the manga by Hideki Yamada will premiere on July 10.

Is there really even a good reason to watch the TV broadcast version of shows like this when they’re going to be so heavily censored?

Source: Anime News Network

Japanese media publisher Media Factory has released a new two-minute trailer for next month’s Kamisama Dolls television series. The new trailer includes substantial new footage not included in previous trailers. The adaptation of Hajime Yamamura’s supernatural action manga will premiere on July 5.

Source: Anime News Network