AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Capcom has formally announced, as part of its promotion during this weekend’s Tokyo Game Show, that Studio 4°C will animate a feature length Street Fighter IV anime motion picture. Studio 4°C is responsible for the Street Fighter IV promotional anime trailers and the original anime footage that will be included in the home console versions of Street Fighter IV.

Furthermore, Capcom will be partnering with popular Japanese pop music group EXILE in order to promote Street Fighter IV.

Source: Moon Phase

Question:
Why are almost all anime trailers just the show opening? What more can people (especially people new to anime) get besides a showcase of the animation?

Read the rest of this entry »

The official website for Seto no Hanayome romantic gag comedy anime series now hosts a short streaming trailer for the upcoming OVA series, along with a video introduction from voice actresses Halko Momoi (San Seto) and Sakura Nogawa (Luna Edomae). The first Seto no Hanayome OVA will go on sale November 28. The second episode will be released on January 30th.

Source: Anime News Network

Go! Comi has launched a website for its upcoming English translated release of Yukino Ichihara’s fantasy manga series 07-Ghost. The site includes series information, character profiles, news, downloadable wallpapers and icons, and a 24-page preview of the first volume.

The official homepage for the Negibozu no Asataro children’s samurai anime television series now hosts a streaming trailer for the show’s first episode. The adaptation of Kazuyoshi Ino’s picture books is scheduled to premier on the 12th.

Source: Anime News Network

Publishers Weekly now hosts an exclusive interview with renowned painter Yoshitaka Amano, conducted at last month’s New York Anime Festival.

Source: Anime News Network

According to Japan’s Oricon entertainment industry sales data, the first DVD volume of the recently concluded Strike Witches television series has sold nearly 11,000 copies since its September 26th release. Anime DVDs that sell more than 10,000 copies in Japan are said to be exceptionally successful. Strike Witches is reportedly the first Gonzo produced anime series to sell more than 10,000 DVDs since the 2001 DVD release of Vandread.

Apart from the obvious moe appeal, it’s nice to see the Strike Witches TV series get a lot of support because it has been one of the better TV anime productions of the year. Still no announced plans for an American DVD release, though.

Source: Canned Dogs

Question:
What do you think of Funimation’s recent decision to only release Red Garden, Welcome to the NHK, and Pumpkin Scissors as two half-season sets only, even though the former license holder ADV never got a chance to release the final volumes. Is it wise to leave out those who already bought the first five singles?

Read the rest of this entry »

Curious to know what other anime fans are collecting? Here’s our best selling mainstream and adult anime DVDs of the year so far. See what sells. Find out what other fans consider worth their funds.

Read the rest of this entry »

The geek by any other name blog now hosts an exclusive interview with voice actress Rie Tanaka (Suigintou in Rozen Maiden, Yomi in Azumanga Daioh).

Source: Anime News Network

Always: Sunset on Third Street director Takashi Yamazaki’s new film, the historical romance drama “Ballad -Namonaki Koi no Uta-” (Ballad: The Nameless Song of Love) reportedly adopts its plot from the award winning 2002 Crayon Shin-chan anime movie “Crayon Shin-chan: Arashi wo Yobu Appare! Sengoku Daikassen.” Yamazaki’s tragic romance set during Japan’s feudal Sengoku era will include an 11 year old boy character named “Shinichi,” but the film will not be a comedy, nor will it reference the Crayon Shin-chan anime. “Ballad” is the story of a war that breaks out when a princess in love with a minor general refuses an arranged political marriage. “Ballad” is currently filming for a September 2009 release.

Source: Tokyograph

The weekly video game review show Bytejacker now hosts coverage of the recent New York Anime Fest in its tenth episode, and a new special episode featuring the New York Anime Festival’s World Cosplay Summit Masquerade, interviews with Peter Fernandez and Corinne Orr, musical acts, and select vendors and exhibitors.

Massachusetts based anime convention Anime Kaiju Experience has announced an open mini-manga/doujinshi contest. Aspiring creators are invited to submit an 8 to 12 page (including front & back cover) original, self-contained “manga” story. All submission will be displayed in the Anime Kaiju Experience’s art exhibition. The winning entry will be published as part of the convention’s programming guide booklet. Creators do not need to attend the convention to enter the competition. Entries must be received by November 8. Visit the official Anime Kaiju Experience homepage for further details.

Japan Publications Trading’s book The Akiba: A Manga Guide to Akihabara is scheduled for release next month. Akihabara, the world’s anime otaku hot spot, is just a half-mile area within Tokyo packed with shops of every kind, gaming centers, clubs, bars and restaurants.

Part manga and part travel guide, The Akiba opens with a story in which a young woman discovers that her boyfriend has been harboring a very deep secret… The second part of the book is a complete visitors’ guide to the Akiba, filled with full-color photographs, detailed maps, transportation information and a complete listing of the locations mentioned throughout the story, organized by category.

The Japanese Moon Phase Diary fan site reports the uncited and unconfirmed news that Production I.G will develop an anime adaptation of Capcom’s action game series Sengoku Basara, known in America as “Devil Kings.” The anime will be directed by L/R director Kawasaki Toshiaki. Ookubo Toru (animation director for several episodes of Production I.G’s Blood+) will provide character designs and serve as animation director. Basilisk and Chevalier screenwriter Muto Yasuyuki will write the story.