Archive for August, 2011

Opening A Day

Friday, August 26th, 2011

To refresh your memory or introduce you to an interesting opening animation sequence, I submit the opening of the 2004 Tales of Phantasia OVA series. The opening theme is “Yume no Hate” sung by Masami Suzuki.

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Ask John: Can Aya Hirano Reprise Suzumiya Haruhi?

Friday, August 26th, 2011


Question:

With all the news lately about Hirano Aya’s uhm… “adult” troubles and now her expulsion from her talent agency, many fans are wondering what’s to become of Suzumiya Haruhi’s seiyuu. Hirano’s protrayal of Suzumiya is pretty iconic, and recasting a central character seems dicey in my mind.

If we assume for a moment that there will be further movies or seasons of the Suzumiya Haruhi anime, is a recast likely? Is there precedent for recast seiyuu for highly visible characters and programs? I would postulate that, in Hirano’s case specifically, she’s likely to suffer some dramatic (by Western standards) consequences for any future voice acting work now that her music career is diminished by her off-the-clock behavior. I would think this reduces her chances of being allowed to continue the role.

(more…)

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Dot Hack Movie Announced

Thursday, August 25th, 2011

The seemingly unstoppable .Hack franchise is getting a full CG feature film. Game developer CyberConnect2 is animating the 3D anime film .hack//The Movie. The film will introduce new characters discovering the complex, immersive, and dangerous online game “The World.” The film will hit Japanese theaters in January. Game Watch mirrors the streaming trailer available on the movie’s homepage.

Since 2002 when the .Hack franchise launched, I’ve not been much of a fan. The trailer for this movie reveals absolutely nothing that encourages me to anticipate the flick.

Source: Anime News Network

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Garo 2 Scheduled

Thursday, August 25th, 2011

The TV Tokyo network has formally announced that creator/director Keita Amemiya’s Garo 2: Makai Senki (Garo 2: Demon World War Chronicle) live-action television series will premiere on October 6. Zeiram creator Keita Amemiya’s Garo television series premiered in 2005 as a “Hyper Midnight Action Drama” horror/superhero tokusatsu (special effects) series for adult viewers. The 25 episode series was followed by a 2006 TV special and a 2010 feature film.

Source: Moon Phase

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Opening A Day

Thursday, August 25th, 2011

To refresh your memory or introduce you to an interesting opening animation sequence, I submit the opening of last year’s Mayoi Neko Overrun! TV series. The opening theme is “Happy New Nyaa” sung by Kanae Ito, Yuka Iguchi, and Ayana Taketatsu.

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Anime Bunko OVA Releases Scheduled

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

Aniplex has scheduled the release of animation studio ufotable’s three “Anime Bunko” OVAs.

A new 30 minute Yuri Seijin Naoko-San OVA will hit Japanese DVD & BD on November 30. The long-awaited 40 minute long Minori Scramble! OVA will hit on December 7. And the 70 minute long Gyo will hit on December 14.

Yuri Seijin Naoko-san is based on the gag comedy manga by Kashmir about a normal high school girl who encounters a female alien obsessed with preadolescent girls and lesbians. A short OAD adaptation was released last year.

Mikage Chihaya’s Minori Scramble is a comedy about a young girl who has a pet humanoid penguin robot to help her overcome her dislike of penguins.

Gyo is based on Junji Ito’s 2001 horror manga about undead biomechanical fish attacking mankind.

I can’t wait for these!

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Opening A Day

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

To refresh your memory or introduce you to an interesting opening animation sequence, I submit the melancholy opening of the 2006 Shinigami no Ballad TV series. The opening theme is “no one” performed by KOY.

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Ask John: What Turned John Into an Otaku?

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

Question:
I was wondering, how were you introduced to anime? Also which show was it that you knew you were hooked. Not meaning the first series that you really loved, but the one where you thought to yourself, “I’m otaku now”…. or something like that.

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Zero no Tsukaima Fourth Series Announced

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

The advertising obi found on new copies of the second volume of Yukari Higa’s manga series Zero no Tsukaima Chevalier reveal that the “Familiar of Zero” light novels will get a fourth and final TV series adaptation. The new fourth series will be preceded by the October broadcast of “Zero no Tsukaima Kessakusen,” a rebroadcast of select episodes from the prior three TV series. The third series, Zero no Tsukaima ~Princesses no Rondo~, aired in 2008.

Honestly, while I always knew that a new series was possible, I never thought it would actually happen.

Source: Anime News Network

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New RuroKen Will Be a Remake

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

Aniplex has announced that the revival of the Rurouni Kenshin anime will be a two part retelling of the Shin Kyoto Hen (New Kyoto Arc) storyline that pits Himura Kenshin against the assassin Makoto Shishio. This new interpretation of the conflict will be told from the perspective of supporting character Misao Makimachi the adolescent girl ninja. Original RuroKen anime director Kazuhiro Furuhashi is directing the animation at Studio Deen, the studio which produced the RuroKen motion picture and OVAs. The first of the two new OVA episodes will premiere theatrically this December. The 1996 TV series voice cast will reprise their roles with the exception of Ken Narita who will play Hajime Saito in place of original voice actor Hirotaka Suzuoki.

Not really sure how this is going to work since Misao wasn’t even present to see the climactic battle between Kenshin & Shishio.

Source: Anime News Network

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Shin TeniPuri TV Anime Announced

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

Shueisha has announced that Takeshi Konomi’s New Prince of Tennis (Shin Tennis no Oujisama) manga will receive an anime adaptation. The “Shin” series that launched in 2009 is a sequel to Konomi’s original Prince of Tennis manga series. The Prince of Tennis: Eikoku-shiki Teikyu-jo Kessen! motion picture will hit Japanese theaters on September 3.

Source: Anime News Network

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Milky Holmes Second Series Announced

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

A second season of the ironically popular in Japan Tantei Opera Milky Holmes anime series will premiere in January. The first anime adaptation of Bushiroad’s super-powered detective girls adventure-comedy aired last year.

Source: Anime News Network

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A-Channel OVA Announced

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

The homepage for the A-Channel television series has announced that an OVA is now in development. The TV series adaptation of bb Kuroda’s comedy manga aired from April to June 2011.

I remain bothered by the trivial fact that the series’ title has no hyphen in katakana while the official romaji title does.

Source: Anime News Network

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Second Ben-To Trailer Released

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

The homepage for the upcoming TV anime series Ben-To has added a second 60 second trailer of entirely new footage. The action comedy revolves around students who struggle for the opportunity to purchase half-priced supermarket packaged meals. The series will premiere in October.

Source: Anime News Network

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CoMix Wave Announces New Production

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

Indie anime production sponsor CoMix Wave Films has announced the development of creator Sobi Yamamoto‘s original anime OVA Kono Danshi, Uchuujin to Tatakaemasu. (That Boy, To Fight Aliens). The “pitiful and beautiful adolescent story” anime is about a boy with the ability to oppose an alien take-over of earth, except the boy has amnesia. The OVA will be released in November.

21-year-old animator Yamamoto created the “Sekai Kei Sekai Ron” anime short below last year:

Source: Anime News Network

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