AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Japanese media company Broccoli has announced that its board of directors has decided to shut down the company’s American distribution subsidiary, Broccoli International USA. Broccoli USA was launched in Los Angeles, California in March 2002. Broccoli’s American anime distribution subsidiary, Synch-Point, has distributed anime titles including FLCL, Aquarian Age, and Di Gi Charat on domestic DVD. Broccoli Books has published English translations of manga titles including Di Gi Charat, Galaxy Angel, Aquarian Age: Juvenile Orion, Disgaea, and the Cosmode USA photo book.

The closure of Broccoli USA comes as a result of sharply decreasing profits caused by increased domestic retail and distribution competition. The remaining four employees of Broccoli International USA will end operations by December 31, and the complete liquidation of Broccoli USA will be completed by February 2009.

Source: a geek by any other name

Japanese broadcast network NTV, in association with entertainment company Yoshimoto Kogyo and advertising company Dentsu, have announced plans to distribute 35 hours of Japanese programming online internationally through the Joost website beginning next month. The 105 total episodes of content will include English subtitled episodes of the Ultimate Survivor Kaiji and Buzzer Beater anime television series and four comedy and variety programs.

Source: Anime News Network

Japanese retailers including 7&Y, Byakuya, and e-hon report that an Ad Lib Ouji (Ad Lib Prince) “Gokufu Box” will be released on December 20th containing the first volume of Keiichi Akatsuki’s 2001 manga and a 60 minute long anime DVD featuring four adaptations of protagonist Ouji’s slot machine matches against his primary rivals: Hokuro, Okashi, Yurie, and Ginbuchi.

The best selling manga about professional “pachi-slot” (slot machines found in pachinko parlors) player Ouji is, according to manga publisher publisher Byakuya Shobo and Ad Lib Ouji slot machine manufacturer Sanyo Bussan, Japan’s most popular pachi-slot manga series.

The official website for the Ad Lib Ouji slot machine hosts a lengthy Flash animation trailer that introduces the game and the manga characters.

Source: Anime News Network

The official website for the upcoming Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari television series, a spin-off from Tenchi Muyo, now hosts a 67 second long teaser trailer. The trailer features extensive pre-production background art, but no characters or animation.

Source: Anime News Network

Japanese entertainment news site Oricon reports that Riko Miyagi’s 2006 and ongoing shoujo manga Mei-chan no Shitsuji (Mei-chan’s Butler) will be adapted into a live action television series. The story about Mei, a young girl who inherits a vast fortune and employs a handsome butler who happened to have helped her years before, will debut on the Fuji TV network in January.

Looks like handsome butler stories really are developing into a new Japanese pop trend

Source: Anime News Network

The Moon Phase Diary reports that the next issue of Dragon Magazine will include a major announcement regarding Sekina Aoi & Kira Inugami Seitokai no Ichizon light novel series. The novel series has already been announced for adaptation into manga, suggesting that next month’s announcement may be of an anime adaptation.

Question:
Why don’t we have anime in syndication? I like to know.

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MTV is seeking 3 fascinating fantasy obsessives to appear in an upcoming episode of its documentary series True Life. MTV is looking for a cosplayer so committed that he or she only goes by character name, or someone who uses role-playing as a form of psychological therapy. Or someone looking for love in the cosplay community. The bottom line is a unique person with a compelling story to tell. Applicants must appear to be between the ages of 16 and 28.

Visit MTV’s True Life Casting Call page to apply.

The December issue of Ultra Jump Magazine will include a formal announcement of plans for an anime adaptation of Shirow Miwa’s stylish action manga series Dogs. The original Dogs manga series was serialized from 2000 to 2001. The story restarted in 2005 and is still ongoing under the title “Dogs: Bullets & Carnage.”

The Moon Phase Diary reports the anime production (presumably a TV series) will be directed by Tonagura director Tatsuya Abe and written by Linebarrels of Iron scriptwriter Kiyoko Yoshimura. Chrono Crusade and Rosario to Vampire Capu2 monster designer Hiroyuki Kanbe will provide character designs. The majority of the voice actors from the Dogs audio drama CDs will reprise their roles in the anime.

The official English language translation of the Dogs manga is scheduled for release next April by Viz Media.

Source: Anime News Network

Japanese publisher Ohta Books has announced that Natsume Ono’s light drama manga story Ristorante Paradiso will premier as a TV anime next year. “RisPara,” as it’s abbreviated by Japanese fans, will be the second anime series broadcast in the Fuji TV network’s late night “NOISE” time slot, following the end of the current Michiko to Hatchin television series.

The RisPara manga, originally serialized from 2005-2006, illustrates the life of Nicoletta, a young woman that becomes an apprentice in a restaurant in Rome owned by her father in law.

Source: Anime News Network

Jump Square magazine editor-in-chief Masahiko Ibaragi yesterday stated on the KIDS STATION’s Anime Paradise news program that he “thinks” there will be a Tegami Bachi (Letter Bee) anime television series next year. A 30 minute long film adaptation of Hiroyuki Asada’s Tegami Bachi fantasy manga is presently concluding its screenings in 10 Japanese cities as part of the current Jump Super Anime Tour publicity event.

Source: Anime News Network

Reportedly, this past Monday American animation producer/distributor World Events Productions (WEP) began proceedings to sue Japan’s Toei Animation for interference with WEP’s ability to negotiate development of a live action Voltron movie.

In August 2007 Variety Magazine reported that American film production studio New Regency was close to signing a deal with WEP for the production of a live action Voltron movie when Toei objected, citing that WEP had rights to manage only Voltron animation, not live action. New Regency reportedly investigated WEP and Toei’s claims and determined that WEP may not have had full and exclusive rights to negotiate production of a live action Voltron film. As a result, in August 2008 New Regency canceled its tentative plans to develop a live action Voltron film.

World Event Productions’ legal summons states that WEP, “has lost at least one development deal that would have resulted in a live-action motion picture,” and demands a full clarification of exactly and completely what rights to the Voltron franchise belong to WEP and what rights Toei and original Golion character designer Kazuo Nakamura retain.

Source: Anime News Network

Question:
Do you think that part of the reason there are fewer shows being licensed & released is because more shows are being made for the Japanese “otaku” audience, and less of the type that US buyers like - which seem to be more action type for teenage boys. There are quite a few action/shonen type shows still, but it seems to me that compared to 5 years ago the amount of new titles licensed has decreased.

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The official website for the upcoming TV series adaptation of Riku Ranjo & Hiro Suzuhira’s romantic comedy novel series Akikan! now hosts a short, streaming trailer. The first episode of the “harem” show about canned beverages that transform into human girls will premiere online for Japanese viewers on sites including Bandai Channel & Yahoo Douga December 30th. The television broadcast will begin on January 3.

Source: Anime News Network

Variety Magazine reports that Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has created a new subsidiary focused on producing and distributing international properties worldwide. The “International Product Expansion Group” has acquired the international distribution rights to Madhouse’s planned four 12 episode anime television series starring Marvel Comics characters. The first of the four series, tentatively featuring Iron Man and Wolverine, will premier in early 2010 on Japan’s Animax premium anime channel.

Source: Anime News Network