AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Innovation Network Corporation of Japan has announced plans to invest about 5 billion yen (about $63 million USD) into the establishment of an anime production studio with offices in Japan and Hollywood, California. The new production company will recruit experienced Hollywood producers and distributors and partner with American distribution companies to boost the international reception, recognition, and profitability of Japanese anime. The new studio aims to place anime concepts with international production companies and create roughly ten major anime films within its first five years.

Source: Yomiuri News

American/Dominican Republic based film production company Indomina announced yesterday that that it will produce a live-action film based on Gonzo and creator Takashi Okazaki’s Afro Samurai franchise. Indomina Chairman and CEO Jasbinder Singh Mann, actor Samuel L. Jackson, and Gonzo Studios’ Shin Ishikawa will produce. The film will be shot at the Pinewood Indomina Studios in the Domincan Republic next year. Indomina expects to secure a director and cast by the end of this year.

Source: Anime News Network

Manga creator Mayu Shinjo (Kaikan Phrase) has announced that her current Ai-Ore! Danshiko no Hime to Joshiko no Ouji manga series is being developed as a live-action film that will hit Japanese theaters this winter. The manga revolves around Akira, the idol of his boys’ school who wishes to join the rock band led by Mizuki, the idol of her girls’ school. Viz Media published the first volume of the manga series in English last May under the title “Ai Ore! Love Me!”

Source: Anime News Network

To refresh your memory or introduce you to an interesting opening animation sequence, I submit the now somewhat iconic opening of 2004′s Futari no Precure TV series. The opening theme is “DANZEN! Futari wa Precure” performed by Mayumi Gojo.

Crunchyroll has begun streaming the current Morita-san wa Mukuchi anime television series. The series’ first 3 three-minute long episodes are available now.

Studio Ghibli and director Goro Miyazaki’s latest film, Kokurikozaka Kara, opened in 457 Japanese theaters last weekend, drawing 450,000 viewers and earning 587 million yen. The result put the film in third place for its opening frame behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and the Pocket Monster movie 14 double feature. Last year’s Ghibli film, director Hiromasa Yonebayashi’s Karigurashi no Arrietty, opened in ten fewer theaters than Kokurikozaka Kara but attracted roughly twice as many viewers and earned roughly twice as much in its opening weekend.

I do have to wonder, though, if the weak opening for Kokurikozaka Kara is most attributable to the film’s practically non-existant advertising campaign. It still doesn’t even have a full trailer.

Source: Tokyograph

Well Go USA has signed an eight-year acquisition and distribution deal with Nikkatsu’s subsidiary for cult films, Sushi Typhoon. The distribution deal will see Well Go USA distribute American releases of films including Mutant Girls Squad, Helldriver, Yakuza Weapon, Deadball, and the Karate-Robo Zaborgar movie.

Source: The Wrap

Question:

What are your thoughts on the new anime to have been released, and have you noticed any new trends with this latest season?

(more…)

Manga artist Maya Miyazaki has revealed word that her current supernatural adventure manga series Holy Knight will be getting an OVA adaptation. The anime will be the debut work from the Cammot anime production studio. The manga story stars a teen boy who learns that he’s actually the successor to a family of vampire hunters.

Source: Anime News Network

The homepage for the Pretty Cure movie franchise has updated with an official announcement and trailers for the Eiga Suite Precure: Torimodose! Kokoro ga Tsunagu Kiseki no Melody (Suite Precure Movie: Get it Back! The Shining Melody that Connects Hearts) motion picture. The film will be the eleventh Pretty Cure movie and the first based on the Suite Precure series. (Although Suite Precure’s Cure Rhythm & Cure Melody did co-star in the Pretty Cure All-Stars DX 3 movie.) The new movie will be the feature debut of Cure Beat and Cure Muse. The movie will open theatrically on October 29.

Source: Anime News Network

The homepage for the Doraemon movie franchise has released a trailer for next March’s Doraemon: Nobita to Kiseki no Shima ~Animal Adventure~ (Doraemon: Nobita and the Island of Miracles ~Animal Adventure~) motion picture. The movie will commemorate reaching 100 years prior to Doraemon’s fictional “birth” on September 3, 2112.

I like the very soft and warm look of the color & art design in this one.

Source: Anime News Network

Kodansha has confirmed that Tozen Ujiie’s risqué high-school comedy manga Seitokai Yakuindomo will get at least two more OVAs. One will be an OAD released with limited edition copies of the sixth collected volume of manga that goes on sale November 17. Another OVA will follow in April 2012. Seitokai Yakuindomo was adapted into a 24 episode TV series last year and got an OAD in April 2011.

Yipee!

Source: Anime News Network

Broadcaster Nagoya TV has revealed that Battle Spirits Heroes will premiere this fall. The anime TV series will be Sunrise’s fourth anime series based on its Battle Spirits CCG.

Source: Anime News Network

Former X Japan and Loudness bass player Taiji Sawada passed away at age 45 on Saturday, July 17. Reportedly, Taiji was involved in an “incident” involving a female passenger and a female flight attendant during an air flight from Japan to Saipan. Taiji was arrested upon arriving in Saipan. After several days in jail, Taiji attempted to commit suicide on the evening of July 15. After being pronounced brain-dead at the Commonwealth Health Center, his family requested that he be removed from life-support.

If, as news seems to suggest, Taiji hanged himself in jail, he would be the second X Japan member to commit suicide by hanging following Hideto “Hide” Matsumoto’s death on May 2, 1998.

Source: Anime News Network & Tokyograph

To refresh your memory or introduce you to an interesting opening animation sequence, I submit the opening of 2003′s Narue no Sekai TV series. The opening theme is “Shooting Star” performed by CooRie.