Category > Events
We've been sent the details of the Bristol International Comic Expo Film Night on May 11th at 10pm at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, Bristol. Anime fans will want to catch Highlander: Search For Vengeance along with the fan produced title with cult appeal AMV Hell: 3.
Read More... | Souce: Bristol International Comic Expo
Category > Anime
We've been sent a press release from the folks at Titan Books. They'll be releasing a new updated edition of the Anime Encyclopedia for the UK on 27th April 2007. This edition has a black cover, along with over 40% new material. The Anime Encyclopedia is a must for otaku, as it's a accurate and well researched guide to the subject unlike a few other books which are nowhere near as good. Jonathan Clements and Helen McCarthy know their stuff and we highly recomend this guide. Hunting around on Amazon.co.uk will produce a bargain price below the suggested retail price. You'll save money by reading about the type of anime you'd want to avoid, but the only trouble is you'd want to watch more of the titles you've discovered by reading it.
Read More... | Souce: Titan Book
Category > Anime
According to Anime News Network there will be many sequels and new anime releases in the coming months. One of them is Keroro Gunso which will be it's fourth season starting to air on April 4 on TV Tokyo. Also there will be a new season of Code Geass it is rumoured to be released in the fall of 2007. Along with a new Kyo Kara Maoh OVA in production, a new website for the upcoming five-episode series has been unveiled at www.maruma-ova.jp. Five DVD's, each containing a single episode, will be released starting this fall.
Other new anime will include the violent comedy Bokusatsu Tenshi which will be its 2nd season. Legends of Corocoro 10 Comic series will debut in May and features classic stories in a format aimed at adults.
Souce: Anime News Network
According to Akadot the popular anime and manga Slam Dunk by Takehiko Inoue will be adapted into a Live-Action movie by Taiwan's Chang Hong Channel Group and Shanghai's Film Television Group. Cast will be headed by Taiwanese pop star, Jay Chou, Charlene Choi, Chen Bo-lin, and Yee Chung Man. The movie will be released in winter 2008.
The manga sold more than 100 million copies in Japan and received various awards as well.
Souce: Akadot
Category > Toys
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex fans will be pleased to hear about the new toy from MegaHouse, it's a 1/20 scale Tachikoma model, with lots of articulation and even an opening pod that can fit the included Makoto figure inside! Known as the Perfect Piece Tachikoma the set is about 13cm tall, comes with a book, a wrench and other fun accessories. As expected the main eye can move around even it's oil intake tray opens for you to put in a can of oil to keep everyone's favourite jumping spider like robot well fed. Complete with both gatling gun and grenade launcher front gun, it's a real must have for the hardcore fan.
Read More... | Souce: MegaHouse
Category > Anime
New Naruto episodes are airing starting today at 6.30pm and sees the introduction of Jairya. Interestingly the Japanese theme music makes a welcome entry to the TV edit. Hooray!
Souce: Jetix
Category > Events
We've received details from the good folks at Alcon, the Leicester based convention has had to change it's dates from 14th-16th September to 7th-9th September due to a date clash with the Midlands MCM Expo in Telford.
Souce: Alcon
Category > Events
The good folks from Leicester UK convention AmeCon 2007 have sent us more details regarding registration and guests at the convention. Following our earlier story about the convention being open for registration it seems that a lot of people have now registered with more than 673 fans registering for the convention, this means that half of their capacity has been filled in 4 days! They have a total capacity of 1,300 which once filled will not be extended due to insurance and tax issues. We suggest you book now to avoid any disappointment.
Guests this year are voice actors Monica Rial and Chris Patton, who also attended last years AmeCon and proved to be popular guests.
Read More... | Souce: AmeCon
Category > Events
Anime fans will be pleased to know that Leicester based UK anime convention AmeCon 2007 is now open for registration. So book now to avoid disappointment. The convention is scheduled for 10th-12th August 2007 and is the third convention held by the AmeCon crew.
Souce: AmeCon
Category > Anime
The English language cast for CLAMP's reality hopping series Tsubasa Reservoir chronicle has been announced on the official site as follows:
Syaoron: Jason Liebrect
Sakura: Monica Rial
Kurogane: Chris Sabat
Fay Flourite: Vic Mignogna
Yuko Ichihara: Colleen Clinkenbeard
Mokona: Carrie Savage
Souce: Tsubasa Online
Category > Anime
We've just got an e-mail from the pioneering folks at Genoen who'd like to let us know that they've posted up the latest Geneon Spot audio podcast, featuring an interview with Taliesin Jaffe (the ADR director of R.O.D -The TV-, Hellsing, Hellsing Ultimate, BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad, etc.), who talks about script adaptation work and the realities of being an anime voice actor.
Souce: Geneon Spot audio podcast
Category > Events
We've received details about the London Anime Club having to cancel their March meeting due to the venue being refurbished later than planned. The London Anime Club meet up on the first Sunday of each month (except January). The next LAC is scheduled to take place on Sunday 1st April.
Read More... | Souce: London Anime Club
Category > Toys
Waiting for merchandise related to the hit recent anime series Afro Samurai? Well, you won't have to wait for much longer as DC Unlimited, DC Comics' new 3D brand which licenses pop culture products from outside the DC comic book universe and distributes them to all channels, has acquired the license to produce action figures, busts and statues related to Gonzo-produced series starring Samuel L. Jackson that aired on Spike TV last January. These will be the first line of collectibles based on the series outside of Japan, where a limited number of action figures based on the lead character were produced by toy company Cube back when series' creator Takashi "Bob" Okazaki first produced his original self-published manga.
The first series of collectibles were unveiled last weekend at the New York International Toy Fair. These include fully articulated action figures of two sizes, a regular 6.75 and a deluxe 14 , that spotlight the characters from the anime. The first wave of figures will include main character Afro Samurai, his sidekick Ninja Ninja, and deadly adversaries Kuma and Justice. A possible second wave of figures will no doubt include the Empty Seven, a group of monks determined to get the headbands worn by Afro and Justice, as well as possibly a young Afro. Busts and statues will also be available, though no details as to who they will be of, outside of Afro of course, have been given. The first series of collectibles will be shipped to retailers in the fall of 2007.
Souce: ICv2
Anime fans in the UK who can get down to Exeter will want to go to Animated Exeter from 12th - 24th February 2007, which is spread across several venues including Exeter Phoenix and Exeter Picturehouse.
They'll be showing all sorts of animated fun, we suggest the following anime titles:
Souce: Animated Exeter
Category > Events
We've been sent some details about a new UK anime convention Alcon at De Montfort University, Leicester City Campus. Scheduled for 14th-16th September 2007, it looks promising for a first time convention. Current sign up rates are valid until March 31st, so book now to get a lower sign up fee. We wish the Alcon crew the best of luck for their first anime convention!
Read More... | Souce: Alcon
Category > Events
The Tomo-Dachi committee have sent us a press release about their next convention in Northern Ireland. It's set to run from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th of August at the University of Ulster’s Magee Campus in Londonderry. This years guest of honour is ADR director, scriptwriter and voice actor Mike McFarland, who's done ADR work on Fullmetal Alchemist, Trinity Blood and Dragon Ball, as well as a selection of voice acting roles. Too-Dachi is now open for pre-registrations, so book early to avoid disappointment.
Read More... | Souce: Tomo-Dachi
Category > Anime
The release date for the new Highlander animated film has finally been announced. Manga Entertainment will release Highlander: Vengeance, directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri and animated by Madhouse Studios, on this summer on June 5th. Both regular and special editions are planned for release.
There still remains some speculation as to whether or not the 80 minute film will do well, either with anime or Highlander fans. The franchise's popularity has gone back and forth over the years, but still remains a cult favorite. The new film, which follows the adventures of new Highlander Colin MacLeod in his quest for revenge against the Immortal Marcus Octavius and is said to cover elements not dealt with previously in either the movies or TV series, should still definitely appeal to anime fans, particularly those who favor intense martial arts sword fights along the lines of Ninja Scroll and the recent Basilisk.
Souce: ICv2
Category > Anime
According to Anime News Network Viz has acquired the anime Death Note for a DVD release in the U.S. A Viz representative said that the download episodes will be subtitled and can be obtained by viewers from their website.
Read More... | Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Anime
According to Anime News Service the first episode of Nodame Cantabile which was broadcast between 25:00-25:30 on Fuji Television Network, Thursday, January 11th, has logged the highest anime audience rating ever. The JC staff TV anime attracted a 5.4% share. The Nodame Cantabile live-action has the past attracted an audience rating of 21.7% and an estimated 19 million viewers in one showing. Both adaptations are based on the musical comedy mangad by Tomoko Ninomiya. The past latenight anime ratings record holder was the George Morikawa manga-based Hajime No Ippo (Fighting Spirit) and it's 4.8% share. That record has stood for 6 years.
Souce: Anime News Service
Paprika's chances of an Oscar nomination hurt by disqualification of another movie!
Read More... | Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Events
We've received an e-mail from an "anonymous tip". As such we can't say how true this is, it could be a hoax, it could be a genuine anonymous tip, or on the other hand someone could be trying to do a spot of astroturfing for their anime convention, we don't really know.
It's about an anime convention called Kanacon. The e-mail mentions the MCM Expo and JapanEX, so which may imply that they are running it, on the other hand they may not be. It then states that London "has yet to have a full blown Anime & Manga convention", which is wrong, as London has had Shin nen kai before.
The release concludes suggesting that it might be intended to get some hype going. Is this hoax, or real? Who knows, I guess we'll have to find out in 2008, one thing for sure, running an UK anime convention anywhere is tricky and a logistical nightmare, with venue bookings to worry about, insurance, events, support from fandom and millions of other factors, choosing London to run a convention is a bold move because of cost implications. So lets wait and see. We've already spoken to representatives from two major anime companies who have not heard about this convention, we're wondering who in the industry has been contacted.
We hope the people who tried to launch the disastrous KyuuCON are not involved.
Read More... | Souce: Strange \"Anonymous Tip\"
Just a quick reminders to our viewers in the UK, BBC 2 will be airing Spirited Away, the first and only anime movie to win an Oscar. Make sure you catch Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece at 5:15pm on Saturday December 30th 2006. From what we can gather it's the dubbed version.
Souce: BBC Two
Category > Anime
Ahh viral marketing Sony doesn't know how you work, but will it work for the American branch of Haruhi's SOS club?
After a lot of ambiguity it seems that the Huruhi website that was being circulated around the blogosphere is official and not a german esper plot.
The North American release is a joint effort between Kadokawa Pictures USA and Bandai Entertainment.
The website goes to a lot of effort to recreate the clubs website from the anime . There's also a myspace account link where Kyon asks to meet normal people (on myspace?), as well as a cute live action movie. Before you all start scowling, it's supposed to be one of Huruhi's movies not a dub preview.
Souce: AsosBrigade
Category > Anime
There is interesting article on Mainichi Daily News about the real-life drama/manga Nodame Cantabile which is airing currently in Japan. Apparently Megumi Noda, the main character of the anime and manga is based on a real person.
Read More... | Souce: Mainichi Daily News
The kind folks from ADV Films US have sent us details about the Coyote Ragtime Show. US readers can watch the full first episode officially here, while UK readers can watch it here. It's released in the US on January 16th 2007, while ADV Films UK inform us that they're planning a 16th April 2007 release.
Souce: ADV Films
Category > Anime
Fans rejoiced when it was announced that four new movies based on the hit anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion were in the works, with the first, a prequel, set to debut in Japanese theaters next summer. With no word yet as to when the movies'll hit Western shores, ADV Films is happy to announce that the December issue of Newtype USA will feature a first look at the new movies. While there's no word as to the actual content of the article, you can expect that there should be some plot details and production art. Plenty to wet your whistle as you count down the days until the announcement of the Western DVD release. And you thought waiting for the PS3 or the Wii was bad.
Souce: ADV Films
Category > Anime
Ah this has been a good day, I played a Wii today but that's not what this is about. This is about the news that apparently 4kids is stopping work on One Piece, though we'll have to wait for official word. This doesn't mean that they are giving up rights, so fans will have to hope they give them up or let them lapse next renewal. I suspect that Viz will get first dibs since they are showing multi-media Shonen Jump support for the titles they did retain. Make sure your favourite anime company knows you want One Piece uncut, and dare we suggest the movies too? This will also we suspect affect the release of the Wii One Piece game, which was looking marvellous and I hope will now not have the 4kids cast, if 4kids don't sit on rights like they did with Ultimate muscle anyway.
Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Anime
Manganews.net is reporting that a new Deathnote Movie Gaiden will be released in 2007. The movie will centre around the popular character L and will be like a spin-off. It will be a stand alone story from the original Death-Note.
Souce: Manga News
Category > Anime
According to Anime News Service, Ikkitousen: Dragon Destiny is set to be animated. It will debut at the end of February 2007 and will be broadcast on AT-X. A terrestrial broadcast will follow in the spring. For more information visit the official website.
Souce: Anime News Service
Category > Webcomics
PvP animated series is in the works for February launch!
Read More... | Souce: PvP Website
Just a quick note to let everyone know that new episodes of Naruto are showing on Jetix at 6.30 pm each day. If you've missed the start of the new episodes all you need to know is Shino likes bugs.
Souce: Jetix
Category > Anime
The first ever American Awards will be held at the New York Comic Con in February.
Read More... | Souce: ICv2
Category > Anime
FUNimation's UK titles will be switching from MVM to Revelation Pictures. The move has been made by Nevarre , FUNimation's parent company who already use Revelation for other releases.This will involve series such as Full Metal Alchemist and Fruits Basket. MVM will still continue with a range of anime it's licenced independently from FUNi.
Read More... | Souce: UK-Anime.net
Category > Anime
In a long overdue announcement it finally seems FUNimation are giving Dragon Ball Z fans what they want.
After halting their re-release of the first season uncuts, and then postponing the new Saiyan saga box set, details have finally been released.
FUNimation have remastered the series themselves rather than using the Japanese " Dragon-box" footage and controversially they are wide screen , but at $49.98 a season it's much cheaper than importing the Japanese DVDs and there are some interesting extras . The first box comes out in February.
Read More... | Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Anime
Good news for Saiyuki fans as a new Saiyuki Reload Burial OVA is due for released in 2007 and it should be three episodes long. The first episode is scheduled for Japanese release on April 27, 2007. For more details check out their official website.
Souce: Anime Nation
Category > Anime
Good News for Blood the Last Vampire fans as the French company Pathe will be making the live-action movie. Anime production Studio I.G announced filming will begin in January 2007 and the world wide release is scheduled for Spring 2008.
Souce: Akadot
Category > Anime
According to Anime News Network, Death Note: The Last Name topped Japanese Box office last weekend beating Kisarazu Cat's Eye World Series and Flags of Our Fathers to second and third place respectively.
There is unofficial news that the Death Note anime series has been officially licensed for release in North America in 2007. It's been a great success for Death Note so far.
Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Press Releases
The friendly guys over at ADV Films UK have sent us details of their latest acquistion from Production IG, Le Chevalier D'Eon. Currently they haven't set a release date which is a bit of a pain, not even a rough time frame is mentioned, however it does say that they have UK Video, TV and Video on Demand rights.
Read More... | Souce: ADV Films UK
Category > Anime
Afro Samurai set to make its debut in January on Spike TV.
Read More... | Souce: ICv2
Category > Websites
BBC News and many other news sources are currently reporting that 29,549 clips have been removed from YouTube after the Japanese media companies complained of copyright infringement. The popular video hosting site (recently bought by Google for $1.65bn USD) frequently had clips from Japanese TV shows along with some anime as well.
It is not clear from the article what content has been removed, if it's Japanese TV programmes, more extreme quiz shows, comedy sketches and skits such as Matrix Pong, users of YouTube will have to discover that for themselves. What will be interesting to find out is if YouTube will automatically take down any future content or if the Japan Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC) will have to file more requests.
Souce: BBC News
Category > Fandom
Following on from a previous article on Otaku Hunting, the Mainichi Daily News has some interesting details about an Akihabara otaku wallet, the Shukan Post did a very rough and ready survey of 10 otaku in the area and discovered the maximum amount one carried was 47,000 yen (that's about $392 USD or £211 GBP) with the least carrying 3,000 yen (approximately $30 USD or £14 GBP), with the average wallet containing around 21,900 yen ($183 or £98 GBP).
We question such a small sample size and would be keen to find out if these results scale, or the 10 otaku questions where above or below the real average otaku in Tokyo. Interestingly what the Shukan Post discovered that otaku are in fact penny pinchers, using the knowledge of their train obsessed friend to work out the cheapest journey to save them 10 yen a trip as every little counts.
Souce: Mainichi Daily News
Category > Anime
Kiddy Grade sequel in the works!
Read More... | Souce: ICv2
Category > Anime
The second NANA movie, a sequel of Ai Yazawa's Manga will mark the conclusion of the saga in movie form. The director has expressed difficulties of maintaining a filming schedule suitable for all actors, and as a result 3 cast members have changed. The second installment will cover from volume 6 to 12. The new cast members are:
Nana Komatsu: Yui Ichikawa
Shin: Kanata Hongou
Ren: Nobuo Kyo
The director added that the Film will have a suitable ending as the conclusion.
Souce: Akadot
Category > Anime
The top 10 Anime/Manga of all time as decided by 80,000 Japanese fans was held for the 10th anniversary of the Japan Media Arts Festival.
Read More... | Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Anime
Interesting news from Anime News Network, San Francisco's Best Western Miyako Inn Hotel is going to be turned into a Japanese pop culture persona, starting with a contest to rename the hotel. The new theme will be "an energetic, optimistic expression" of anime, manga, J-Pop, and street fashion, said Matt Harvey, Creative Director of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, a boutique hotel operator that took over the 125-room hotel in May.
Souce: Anime News Network
Anime fans who can get to Leeds in November are in for a treat. They'll be holding the 20th Leeds International Film Festival. Highlights include the UK Premiere of Paprika by Satoshi Kon (responsible for Paranoia Agent, which they'll be screening the complete series in the Festival). Other features include the rather strange selection from Kawasaki Minoru - Executive Koala, Calamari Wrestler and The World Sinks Except Japan.
All tickets cost £6.00 or £4.50 for conessions, they also do tickets for the whole festival. It's well worth going for the Satoshi Kon features alone!
Souce: 20th Leeds Film Festival
Category > Fandom
The trouble with being an anime fan is that people often get the wrong idea, and then start talking about stereotypical stuff about how crazy people are in Japan. Dragon who is the president of the London Anime Club and has also written a shopping guide to anime and electronics in Tokyo has posted a good defence to being called an otaku:
I got into an "arguement" with somebody at work over the term Otaku. They accused me of dressing up in costume and being obssively knowledgeable about the subject. "Fine," I said. "Just like the rest of the perverts who you see dressed up in strange costumes and hanging round in parks on Sundays, or that gather in huge crowds dressed in outlandish gear singing stupid songs and generally idolising over their obessions. Who spend huge amounts of money buying all the latest things. They have pictures on their bedroom walls. They follow the latest news and interviews very great glee. They seek out fellow fanatics and discuss the latest events. Such obsessives like you. Only in this country they are known as football fans."
So note down the otaku are just the same as football fan strategy and use it next time people call you weird for liking those strange Japanese cartoons! ^_-
Souce: London Anime Club
Category > Anime
Regular readers of Otaku News will no doubt be unsurprised to find that anime is popular around the world. The Yomiuri Shimbun has an interesting article that reports on how popular anime is, with Captain Majed the soccer anime (better known as Captain Tsubasa) being a big hit in Iraq. The Japanese government used Tsubasa's popularity by putting his image on Japanese supply trucks in Iraq, this proved popular with Iraqi children and it shows that anime characters can be goodwill ambassadors.
The article then moves to Simona Stanzani Pini an Italian translator of manga, who states that she grew up watching anime on her local television, and how Japanese animation has become a part of Italian culture.
Interesting facts are also revealed, with an Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry estimate stating about 60 percent of the worlds animation coming from Japan. Which leads on the Japanese companies moving into foreign markets, mentioning that in 2004 Toei Animation Co, (now 50 years old), opening local offices in Los Angeles and Paris acting as a direct sales contact instead of through a third party. It's interesting because many industry insiders in the west have predicted that anime companies would one day cut out the middle man and sell directly to their foreign markets.
Toei has also created an anime version of the Powerpuff Girls, giving them a distinctly Japanese look. Called Demashitaa! Powerpuff Girls Z, the series is currently showing on TV Tokyo and is scheduled to be shown worldwide on Cartoon Network in the near future.
Souce: Yomiuri Shimbun
Oban Star Racers started in the UK on Sunday October 1st, and will then confusingly run on weekdays at 5:30pm, with the first episode being aired again on Monday 2nd October. Having caught the first few episodes at last London expo it comes highly recommended.
Naruto fans might be eager to hear that Jetix are advertising new episodes at 6:30. Today's episode was actually a repeat set at the start of the Chunin written exams, the new episode adverts may indicate that Jetix will progress to the practical part of the exams after the written and therefore genuine new episodes, instead of looping back to episode one.
Souce: Jetix
Category > Anime
There is an interesting article on Icv2 about the Death Note anime series which will premiere on October 3rd at 12:56am on Japan TV.
Read More... | Souce: Icv2
Category > Anime
Paradise Kiss, the Manga by famous Manga-ka Ai Yazawa (known for massive hit NANA) will be officially out on DVD in the U.S. On Geneon's new website ParadiseKissDVD.com there is also details about Franz Ferdinand ending theme 'Do you want to' used in the anime series. The Ending theme has also been licensed to be used in the U.S.
The first of Volume of Paradise Kiss will be out on December 19, 2006.
Souce: Anime News Network