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
Category > Anime
ADV Films has joined the anime downloading craze with the opening of their new digital download store, ADV Universe. Anime fans can now, after signing at the official website, browse and shop for episodes of their favorite ADV releases, including Gilgamesh, Godannar, and Comic Party to watch on their computer through Windows Media Player.
While the price for episode downloading has not been disclosed, signing up for service at ADV Universe is free! And as an added incentive, fans will receive the first episode of Guyver: The Bio-Booster Armor, soon to be released by ADV, for free after signing up. It’s just one more way at how much anime fandom is progressing in this high-tech, digital age.
Souce: ADV Films
Category > Current Affairs
Otaku in Akihabara beware! The area famed as the spiritual homeland of otaku is under fire from young thieves who are targeting the mild mannered geeks. According the Mainichi Daily News eight youths (aged 14 to 18 detailed in other reports) were engaged in what they called "otaku hunting". The teens targeted otaku in Akihabara for mugging because they are weak, and are known to have money especially when in Akihabara due to the many popular anime shops in the area.
The bullies demand money from powerless otaku and threaten violence.
Police state that there have been 25 separate reports of otaku hunting since the start of the year with the victims losing a combined sum of 350,000 yen ($2965 USD / £1590 GBP) between them.
Souce: Mainichi Daily News
Category > Anime
Thanks to those lovely people at Amecon as well as the voice actors themselves donating their time, I was able to interview voice actors Chris Patton and Monica Rial.
Chris Patton has played roles such as Sousuke Sagara in Full Metal Panic and Sasame in Pretear; Monica has played many characters including Towa in DNAngel and Hyatt in Excel saga she also writes ADR scripts for anime such as DNAngel and Madlax.
Read More... | Souce: Voice Acting Alliance/Otaku News
Rapture TV one of the few channels showing anime in the UK will be launching a new show called Anime Nation on the 25th of September.
As of yet no times have been announced, but we sincerely hope that they put more effort in than the latter Saiko Exciting episodes!
Souce: Rapture TV
Category > Anime
Four all new Evangelion movies are in the works, with the first to be released summer 2007.
Read More... | Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Anime
According to Anime News Network there is great news about a theatrical release by Imagi Animation Studios of an Astro Boy feature in 2009. The studio is already working on Gatchaman and WB's Teenage Mutant.
Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Anime
According to Anime News Network a JoJo's Bizarre Adventure movie is scheduled to premiere in Japan next March. Studio A.P.P.P will produce JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood Project, a 90-minute anime. The movie together with a Phantom Blood Project PS2 game, the movie will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the initial release of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure manga.
Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Events
We've been sent some details from the Tomo-dachi Crew about their next convention, set for Friday, August 31st - Sunday to September 2nd, 2007 at the UU Magee Campus in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Bookings before March 31st are £25 and £30 after. As of yet, they've not released a guest list, however if the last Tomo-dachi is anything to go for they'll have some good industry guests.
Read More... | Souce: Tomo-dachi
Category > Fandom
Otaku - Japan's Consumer Cult.
A syndicated article that appears MSNBC and Business Week focuses on the Otaku, who are Japan's Consumer Fanatics.
It mentions their geeky tendencies to build their own computers, along with their spending large amounts of money on collectable manga and associated merchandise. Interestingly enough the article also states their raw spending power, around $3.5 Billion dollars (USD), a year on anime DVDs, manga, IT gadgets and other toys. Namco Bandai's Idol Manager idolm@ster gets a mention too.
The article then goes on to explain the Densha Otoko and maid cafes, along with English language websites that track the news. They single out two websites Otaku World and this website Otaku News. ^_^
The article also mentions kakure-otaku (hidden otaku), and the Secret Otaku Support Commission.
It then finishes with Kondo Kagaku, a company that noticed a lot of it's servomotors were being bought buy keen otaku who wanted to produce their own robots, so the company met demand and produced their own robot kit.
Souce: Business Week
Category > Anime
Like FLCL, the wacky six-part OAV series from Gainax about a young boy, an alien girl, and the robots that come from his head? Well, get ready to enjoy it all over again when Synch Point releases FLCL: The Ultimate Edition box set on November 21. This new set, going for a SRP of $69.95, will not only include the full series with a director's commentary, but lots of cool free swag. This includes a sticker sheet, postcards, a book (what kind is currently not known, though an art book of some type is likely), and best of all, a coupon for a free T-shirt. Definitely for many to add to their Christmas wish lists.
Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Anime
London based anime fans will want to head over to the Japan Foundation for their free event Bringing Pictures to Life - Japanese Animation and the World of Koji Yamamura. It's set to run on October 16th at 6:30pm, although it's free, booking is essential (if you do book don't forget to mention you found this through Otaku News). Anime expert Helen McCarthy will also be giving a talk about Japanese animation.
It's good to see that the Japan Foundation will be doing this, and hopefully they'll be having other events like this in the future.
The Japan Foundation is near Russell Square Tube station, a short walk from The British Museum and Gosh comics, which is known to stock a nice selection of manga.
Read More... | Souce: Japan Foundation
Category > Events
Those nice partying folk at J-Pop Go will be having the final ultimate showdown (of ultimate destiny) to decide who really does rule, ninjas or pirates. The popular London J-Pop event is set to run on Saturday September 23rd at their regular venue of Cafe Manga.
Who will win on pirates versus ninja night? Otaku News will be betting on the ninjas to win, being favourites by far as they have real ultimate power! Although we wouldn't put it past the underdog pirates of having some chance of beating the sneaky ninjas, however ninjas would only lose to trick the pirates into a false sense of security before flipping out and killing all the scurvy sea dogs! ^_-
Souce: J-Pop Go
The new season of One Piece will start on Monday at 4:30 on Toonami in the UK. So get that grog (or juice since this is the dub) ready for everyone's favourite stretchy pirate anime.
Souce: Toonami
Category > Anime
Toonami Jetstream reports millions of hits in just first four weeks!
Read More... | Souce: Viz
Category > Gaming
After searching Play.com we've noticed that a release date for the PS2 Naruto game Ultimate Ninja has been given as 03/11/2006. Better sharpen your kunai and get practicing then.
Souce: Play.com
A coment in Goro Miyazaki's Earthsea blog has prompted the author of the Earthsea novels; Ursula K. Le Guin, to speak out about her views on the film. She takes to time to write in detail about her views of the film, comparing it with the US live action Earthsea.
"Both the American and the Japanese film-makers treated these books as mines for names and a few concepts, taking bits and pieces out of context, and replacing the story/ies with an entirely different plot, lacking in coherence and consistency"
She also mentions that becuase the Earthsea rights are tied up by the company which made the live action version an American release is not likely until 2009.
Souce: Ursulakleguin.com