AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Hobby Japan magazine has reported that its Queen’s Blade: Rebellion RPG will be adapted into an anime TV series. The Queen’s Blade RPG franchise has already had two anime TV series and an OVA series, and its sequel, Queen’s Blade: Rebellion will release its first OAD this month and its second OAD in January. Queen’s Blade Rebellion picks up four years after the events depicted in the original Queen’s Blade story.

Source: Anime News Network

An original anime TV series titled “Nihon Omoshiro Mukashi Banashi” (Interesting Japanese Folk Tales) will premiere on the Chiba TV network on November 6. The series was created by artist 5-gatsu-byo Mario and will be animated by studios Akiba Koubou and CROSSPHERE.

The series is evidently inspired by the popular 1975 Manga Nihon Mukashi Banashi TV series that inspired similar anime series including Manga Sekai Mukashi Banashi, Manga Furusato Mukashi Banashi, Baka Mukashi Banashi, and Yonimo Osoroshii Grimm Douwa.

Source: Anime News Network

The 10th volume of Shinichi Kimura’s Kore wa Zombie desu ka? (Is This a Zombie?) light novel series will be released next April in a limited edition that includes an OAD. This second OAD episode will be an “episode zero” to the franchise’s second television series. The 8th novel, released last June, included the series’ first OAD. The first TV anime adaptation aired from January to March.

Source: Anime News Network

Question:
You answered the question of why do Americans seem to hate lolicon quite well, but why does it seem like Americans almost completely ignore shotacon?

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Director Bryan Barber, whose credits include the 2006 musical film Idlewild and music videos for artists including OutKast and Llyod, has personally secured the movie, merchandise, and video game rights to the Gigantor franchise from 86-year old director Fred Ladd, who produced the original 1964 English language adaptation of Japan’s 1956 television anime Tetsujin 28-gou. Barber explained that he watched Gigantor on television as a child and is now interested in owning the franchise rights to convince a Hollywood studio to fund a $60 million live-action Gigantor movie that Barber will direct. “I decided, if I was willing to invest my money to gamble on a project… why not spend that money on something I could control?” Barber stated.

George Lucas has made a mint with a sci-fi movie franchise that he owns the master rights to, so there’s definitely precedent for this sort of approach. And I have tremendous respect for any fan that loves an anime enough to invest in it. However, the viability of any Gigantor adaptation is questionable, particularly in the US. The franchise did get a Japanese live-action movie in 2005 that went by practically unnoticed in America despite even a domestic DVD release.

Source: Anime News Network

Shogakukan has announced that a final Major OAD, based on Takuya Mitsuda’s popular baseball manga series, will be released in December, packaged with limited edition copies of a special manga compilation book. The new OAD will adapt the manga’s “World Series” story arc that has not previously been animated. The first Major OAD was released in December 2010 with limited edition copies of the 78th and final collected manga volume of the Major manga story. Major has also been adapted into six anime television series and an anime feature film.

Source: Anime News Network

Question:
Kyoto Animation has experienced wild success in adapting Key visual novels. Would you care to speculate whether this trend will continue?

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FUNimation has formally announced its acquisition of domestic distribution rights to the 2010 Sokyu no Fafner ~ Dead Aggressor: Heaven and Earth motion picture and the 2009 CG anime fantasy adventure film Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror. Both films will be released domestically next year.

Can’t speak about the Fafner movie because I haven’t watched it. But Hottarake no Shima is an excellent acquisition because the film is exceptionally good.

Source: Anime News Network

Last May Warner Bros. shut down pre-visualization for its live-action Akira film. A week later, film director Albert Hughes departed the production, citing “creative differences” with the studio. This week Warner announced that it intends to begin production of the movie in earnest in late February or early March 2012 with Jaume Collett-Serra (Unknown, Orphan) directing. Tron Legacy star Garrett Hedlund is reportedly the front-runner prospect to star in the film. Warner describes its adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo’s sci-fi manga as a projected “$90 million blockbuster.”

Source: Variety

Video game developer Level 5 has confirmed that its new game project “Yokai Watch” will get a manga and anime TV series adaptation. The story revolves around young boy Keita who becomes friends with the ghost Whisper and obtains a “yokai watch” that allows him to see ghosts.

This is looking more like a supernatural Pokemon than Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro, but that’s not to say that it doesn’t look fun.

Source: Anime News Network

An official website has launched to announce the production of a Zetman TV anime based on Masakazu Katsura’s 2002 transforming superhero action manga. Osamu Nabeshima (D.Gray-man, Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas) will direct the show at TMS Entertainment (Cardfight!! Vanguard, Devilman Lady). The series will premiere next April.

Source: Anime News Network

Sunrise is now developing an anime TV series adaptation of Yasunobu Yamauchi’s slice-of-life gag comedy manga Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou (The Daily Lives of High School Boys). Shinji Takamatsu (Gintama, School Rumble) will direct the series for a January premiere.

Source: Anime News Network

Macross & Anyamal Tantei Kiruminzoo creator Shoji Kawamori will executive direct an original TV anime inspired by real-life J-pop idol group AKB48. The presently untitled TV show will revolve around nine idol singers that aspire to become “legendary idols.” AKB48 producer Yasushi Akimoto will plan and supervise the anime. Working!! and Amagami SS director Yoshimasa Hiraike will direct the anime. The 200 vocalist members of AKB48 and its sister and spin-off groups including SKE48 & NMB48 will compete with each other for the roles as the anime series’ voice actresses. The presently untitled show will premiere next spring.

Source: Anime News Network

After a number of years, I’ve finally managed to obtain the final remaining collection of Risky Safety production art from the collection of a fellow AnimeNation staffer, adding the two boxes of hand-drawn genga art to my own collection. I am pleased.

Question:
I recently watched Ah My Goddess, (I know, old school, but I still love it) and it got me thinking about something. It’s a nice, waffy (Warm And Fuzzy Feeling for those who don’t know), and slightly ecchi show that you just don’t see around much anymore. So what I’m wondering is, what other animes are like this? I can’t seem to find many that are a nice middle ground between harem romcom animes and the more hard core stuff.

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