AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Nozomi Entertainment has picked up a selection of domestic license-rescues: The “Original” Dirty Pair OVA series, the “Affair of Nolandia” and “Flight 005 Conspiracy” OVAs, the “Project EDEN” motion picture, the 16 episode Dirty Pair Flash OVA series, the Martian Successor Nadesico television series, movie, and Gekiganger-III OVA, and the Gasaraki television series. The Nadesico: Gekiganger-III OVA which bridges the time gap between the end of the television series and beginning of the motion picture has never been officially released in America before.

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Bandai has announced plans to simulcast the new Sunrise produced supernatural action television series Sacred Seven on Crunchyroll and Hulu beginning July 8. The series’ first episode aired on Japanese televison this past weekend.

Source: Anime News Network

Studio Ghibli has released its first teaser trailer for this month’s Kokuriko-Zaka Kara motion picture. The adaptation of Chizuru Takahashi and Tetsuro Sayama’s shoujo manga is directed by Ged Senki director Goro Miyazaki and will open in Japanese theaters on the 16th.

Rather shocking that Ghibli is releasing the first trailer only a week-and-a-half before the film opens, but this does look very charming.

Source: Anime News Network

After two years of using its “Toei Robot Girls” as promotional mascots, Toei Animation has finally releaesd an 80 second long “pilot film” featuring Gai-chan (Gaiking), Gacky (Ga-Keen), Bara-tan (Baratack), and Dandan (Danguard Ace).

Source: Anime News Network

Japanese publisher Enterbrain has announced that Idea Factory’s bishonen romance simulation game Hiiro no Kakera Otome will be getting an anime adaptation. The supernatural romance series launched in 2006 and has four Playstation 2 games so far.

Source: Anime News Network

The 2010 Flash anime adaptation of Jigoku no Misawa’s school gag comedy manga series Kakko-Kawaii Sengen! will be getting a second series.

Source: Anime News Network

Two Queen’s Blade Premium Visual Books will be released in October and January, each include a bonus DVD featuring about 40 minutes of exclusive new anime. Each OAD will include one story featuring Queen’s Blade Rebellion characters that have not previously been animated, and one story set after the Queen’s Blade: Utsukushiki Toshi-tachi OVA series starring the elf warrior Alleyne and previously un-animated character Siggy.

Source: Anime News Network

This past weekend, mecha designer Makoto Kobayashi, who worked on the 2009 Space Battleship Yamato Resurrection motion picture, revealed that he is now working on a remake of the 1974 Space Battleship Yamato anime series. The seminal space opera has had three television series, a TV special, two OVA series, six feature films, and a live-action feature film.

Source: Anime News Network

Manga creator Shinji Wada, best known for his 1976 crime action manga series Sukeban Deka, recently passed away at age 61. Wada’s Sukeban Deka series was adapted into an anime OVA series and multiple live action television series and movies. Wada also created the Greek mythology adventure series Pygmalio, which was adapted into a 1990 anime television series.

Source: Anime News Network

Prolific Japanese film director Takeshi Miike is now slated to direct Ai to Makoto 201X, the fourth live-action film based on Ikki Kajiwara’s 1973 school romance manga. The romance story from the creator of Tiger Mask and Ashita no Joe spawned a live-action TV series in 1974 and three live-action films released from 1974-1976. Director Takeshi Miike has plenty of experience directing live-action adaptations of manga, having directed films including Salaryman Kintaro, Yatterman, Crows Zero, and Nintama Rantaro.

Source: Anime News Network

To refresh your memory or introduce you to an interesting opening animation sequence, I submit the nice opening of 1996′s Mizuiro Jidai TV series. The opening theme is “Mizuiro Jidai” sung by Jun Yoneya.