Are you a young person obsessed with a certain book, comic, or video game? MTV’s True Life is looking for young people who are die-hard fans of certain brands, characters, or fantasy series.
In its fifth week of Japanese theatrical release, director Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film Ponyo on a Cliff has held the #1 box office position since its release, and passed 10 million yen in ticket sales on its 31st day of release, two days earlier than Miyazaki’s previous film, 2004’s Howl’s Moving Castle. Ponyo is reportedly the first Japanese theatrical release to earn 10 million yen ($92.53 million US) at the box office since Howl’s Moving Castle.
Source: Anime News Network & Tokyograph
ImaginAsian Entertainment has announced a partnership with TOKYOPOP that will see ImaginAsian handling advertising for TOKYOPOP and the iaTV cable network broadcasting TOKYOPOP video content.
AnimeStylePro has launched the 2008 REGION FREE Japan Artists Network online silent auction of 15 different illustrated “shikishi” (autograph boards) from artists including Makiko Kanada, Masahiro Kimura, Idumi Kimuraya, Kazuhiro Soeta, Osamu Sugimoto and Cindy Yamauchi. Bidding opens on August 19 and ends on August 30, 2008.
Article provided by Mark Giambruno
Question:
I think it’s absolutely great that Saber Rider finally will get a DVD release. The only thing that is a letdown is that it’s the edited version. That is really disappointing that there is no news yet for a DVD release of Saber Rider in it’s original, uncut version. Many other titles that was edited for American TV are now released uncut on DVD such as Dragonball Z, Macross, Voltron. Do you think that Saber Rider has a chance of being released as a uncut version as well on DVD?
The official homepage for the upcoming Michiko to Hatchin anime television series now hosts a new streaming trailer, the first trailer to reveal extensive footage from the show. The series is scheduled to premier in October.
Source: Anime News Network
Japanese publisher Tokuma Shoten has formally announced that author Kagurazaka Atsushi & illustrator Koike Sadaji’s light novel series Taisho Yakyuu Musume (Taisho Era Baseball Daughter) will be adapted into anime.
Source: Moon Phase Diary
The New York Anime Fest, scheduled for September 26-28, has announced that its weekend program book will include the world premier of the Vampire Hunter D short story “Vampire Hunter D: The Wanderer’s Ship,” written by franchise creator Hideyuki Kikuchi.
The story is one of three existing Vampire Hunter D short stories written by Kikuchi and awarded to random prize drawing winners that attend Kikuchi’s regular “Talk Live” public discussion group gatherings held in Tokyo. The owner of the “Wanderer’s Ship” story, Ms. Hitomi Yasue, consented to the English language premier publication because of her desire to encourage increased international awareness of the literary origin of the Vampire Hunter D franchise.
Source: Anime News Network
The official homepage for the upcoming Akikan! anime television series - an adaptation of Riku Ranjo’s light novel series about soda cans that magically transform into human girls - is now online. The series is scheduled to premier next year. The series will be animated by Brains Base (Kurenai, Kamichu, Innocent Venus).
TBS has “pre-opened” its official site for the 2009 Tonari no 801-chan television series. Yaoi-chan is pink now?
TBS has also “pre-opened” its official site for the Asu no Yoichi! martial arts harem anime.
Source: Moon Phase Diary
Question:
With shows like Code Geass and Gundam 00 airing in HD in Japan, US DVD releases feel like a downgrade from the HD fansubs that are now posted on the ‘net. With Code Geass, I am torn between going ahead and purchasing the DVDs and holding out for the Blu-ray discs. Is there any hope that HD versions of popular shows like Code Geass will see light of day in America? Or am I simply hurting the already limping anime industry with my desire to have the best possible legitimate copy of an anime that I can get?
I’m not a cosplayer myself, but even I’m impressed by the debut volume of Cosmode USA. Despite being solicited as a domestic magazine, the premier volume of Cosmode USA is actually an archival photo collection and reference manual - 200 glossy full color pages in hardcover edition that will last a lifetime! If you’ve ever wanted to see what anime characters would look like if they were real people, an extensive photo gallery of Japan’s best costumers will show you. These folks get every detail exact, from the hair to the shoes, including even colored contact lenses! Photos profile costumers representing Gurren Lagann, Five Star Stories, Violinst of Hameln, Code Geass, Tsubasa Chronicle, Dino Crisis, Dragon Quest, Odin Sphere, and more!
But don’t feel left out! American cosplayers also get photographs and profiles. And aspiring & active cosplayers will appreciate this volume’s extensive illustrated guides to designing anime character wigs and hair styles, patterns and guides for creating anime footwear and form-fitting bodysuits, and even detailed instructions for the proper way to put on a traditional Japanese kimono!
This is a lot more than a mere monthly magazine. Cosmode volume 1 is a stunning, archival book that you’ll appreciate having on your shelf for years and years!
The official Japanese homepage for the Clannad TV anime series now hosts a new, 30 second long streaming trailer for the Clannad After Story television series. The sequel to the 2007 Clannad television series is scheduled to premier in October.
Source: Anime News Network
The official homepage for the upcoming Chaos;Head anime television series now hosts a streaming teaser trailer. To watch the trailer, click the main page’s “20080818 PR eizou up shimashita” link, then on the following page, click the topmost yellow link. The Chaos;Head anime is scheduled to premier in October.
The website’s primary image is also available as a downloadable wallpaper. Click Rimi Sakihata’s face to access the hidden wallpaper.
Source: Moon Phase
The official production staff blog for the current Tetsuwan Birdy: Decode anime television series has announced that a second season of the series will begin in January.
Source: Anime News Network
Acclaimed manga artist and character designer Yoshitoshi ABe has formally released his 2006 doujinshi (self-published comic) Pochiyama at the Pharmacy (Yakkyoku no Pochiyama-san) on the iTunes App Store in 20 countries, including the United States and Canada. The iPod & iPhone compatible 53 page manga story retails at $4.99 and offers multiple selectable language displays.
It remains to be seen if this will be a singular, exceptional situation, or if other Japanese manga artists and publishers will follow suit with online distribution of manga with multiple, selectable translations.
Source: Anime News Network
