AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Question:

I just finished watching NANA anime today. The anime is absolutely fantastic, and its unique and realistic portrayal of characters moved me a lot. But unfortunately it ends in a rather inappropriate place. Even more unfortunate is that it seems production for the next season will start only when the manga is complete. I understand that Ai Yazawa sensei is recovering from an undisclosed but curable illness, and therefore the manga is stalled. I also fully understand that she must be going through a period of great stress and may not exactly be in the best frame of mind to continue working on a manga which is as emotionally draining just to watch, as NANA.

Obviously as a big fan, I am praying for her recovery, and really hoping that she finishes the manga. But apart from praying there is not much I can do. Is there any way for a fan to show support to mangakas like Yazawa sensei in their time of need? Is it even possibly for me to send her a “get well soon” card? In the meantime, is it a good idea to continue reading the manga, or as it is anyway stalled should I just wait for the second season to come out?

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Tampa was overcast by a lightning storm on the morning of Friday, July 8, which caused my departure to Chicago, on my way to Toledo, Ohio for Glass City Con III, to be delayed by about 15 minutes. The transfer at O’Hare went smoothly, and I lounged in the Toledo Express airport for ten minutes before Mimi arrived to pick me up. During the drive to the Comfort Inn down the road from Owens Community College, I learned through conversation that steampunk is much more popular up North than it is down in Florida. At the hotel, I was walked to my room around 2pm and left to my own devices. A can of Coke for lunch and a 20 ounce bottle of Coke for dinner may not have been especially healthy, but I had little motivation for anything more substantial. Without a plan or schedule, I woke Saturday morning, lightly partook of the hotel restaurant’s free breakfast, and sunk into a hotel lobby chair with the idea of making myself easy to find. Eventually a convention staffer arrived, and Matt Greenfield, followed shortly by his wife, Tiffany Grant, entered the lobby. With opening ceremonies looming, Matt & I were chauffeured by the McDonalds drive-through so Matt could grab a bite, then taken directly to the convention’s opening ceremony. On the way Mr. Greenfield mentioned that I seemed to have gotten stuck with attending the little con while my compatriots had attended the previous weekend’s Anime Expo. I realized that Matt had confused my affiliation with AnimeNation with Anime News Network but said nothing. To my pleasant surprise, during the opening ceremony introductions, Matt recognized his mistake and jovially apologized.

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Crunchyroll has announced that it will, or already is, streaming a variety of this month’s new Japanese TV anime premieres.

YuruYuri, Kamisama Dolls, and Natsume Yujincho San began streaming on July 5.

Usagi Drop, “Cat God” (Nekogami Yaoyorozu), and R-15 began streaming on July 6.

Sacred Seven & “A Dark Rabbit has Seven Lives” (Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi) begin streaming today, July 7.

The homepage for the Eiyu Densetsu: Sora no Kiseki (Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky) OVA series has added a streaming trailer. Anime studio Kinema Citrus (.hack//Quantum) is producing the anime adaptation of Nihon Falcom’s RPG. The first episode will premiere on October 9.

Source: Moon Phase

With the 14th of 15 planned volumes of Yusaku Igarashi’s Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu light novel series shipping this month, word has now surfaced of a third anime series in development to conclude the storyline. The romantic comedy about an ordinary boy and rich girl who is secretly an anime otaku had an anime TV series adaptation in 2008 then a sequel series in 2009.

Source: Anime News Network

Anime News Network has published an exclusive interview with Taku Kishimoto, scriptwriter for the brand new Usagi Drop television series.

To refresh your memory or introduce you to an interesting opening animation sequence, I submit the opening of 2003′s Shinkon Gattai Godannar TV series. The opening theme is “Shinkon Gattai Godannar!!” performed by Akira Kushida.

The current issue of Young Animal magazine reports that studio 4°C’s Berserk feature film, based on Kentaro Miura’s popular fantasy action manga, will open theatrically in Japan in January 2012. Gunbuster & Gundam 0080 animation director Toshiyuki Kubooka is directing the film.

Source: Anime News Network

To refresh your memory or introduce you to an interesting opening animation sequence, I submit the opening of 2002′s RahXephon TV series. The opening theme is “Hemisphere” performed by Maaya Sakamoto.

Question:
Some characters (like Scrappy Doo or Cape Man) are seen widely as annoying by much of the fanbase and are heavily detested. Who is the most annoying anime character you’ve ever seen? Someone that’s made you say, “I’m really sick of this guy and wish they’d just get rid of him already.”

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Aniplex USA has announced domestic release plans for the Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Ao no Exorcist television series. Blue Exorcist will be released in four domestic volumes beginning this October. Domestic release plans for the acclaimed Madoka Magica television series are still undetermined.

Source: Anime News Network

NIS America has announced its acquisition of distribution rights to the first Kimi ni Todoke television series and the current Dororon Enma-kun Meeramera television series. The first 25 episode anime adaptation of Karuho Shiina’s romance manga Kimi ni Todoke aired in Japan in 2009. The series will be released domestically in two volumes beginning in October. NIS America has not yet confirmed a license for the 2011 Kimi ni Todoke 2nd Season television series.

Dororon Enma-kun Meeramera is a 2011 remake of creator Go Nagai’s 1973 children’s horror anime series Dororon Enma-kun. NIS America hopes to have domestic release plans for the series ready to announce by next summer.

Source: Anime News Network

FUNimation has formally announced its acquisition of distribution rights to the Asobi ni Ikuyo!, B-Gata H-Kei ~ Yamada’s First Time, Baka to Test to Shokanju Ni!, [C], Deadman Wonderland, and Steins;Gate anime series.

Source: Anime News Network

Sentai Filmworks has announced its acquisition of the ef: a tale of memories and ef: a tale of melodies television series, the Loups-Garous motion picture, the current Ro-Kyu-Bu! television series and three “Saiyuki: Requiem OVAs” which are presumed to be the current Saiyuki Gaiden OVAs because there is no existing “Saiyuki: Requiem” OVA series. Sentai has also stated plans to release additional episodes of the Golgo 13 television series.

Nice that they licensed some good stuff to balance out Luops=Garous.

Source: Anime News Network

Viz has announced its acquisition of domestic distribution rights to the Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva anime film and Bleach movie 3: Fade to Black – Kimi no Na wo Yobu. The Bleach movie will be released on domestic DVD & BD on November 15. Release plans for the Professor Layton movie will be revealed in the future.

Viz Media’s first anime BD release, eh.