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Cowboy Bebop Makes Record Sales

Date: 2005 September 03 21:33 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Anime

Cowboy Bebop sells over one million copies in the U.S.

Read More... | Souce: Bandai Entertainment

ADV To Appear On G4

Date: 2005 August 30 21:03 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Anime

Three hit anime series from ADV Films appearing on G4 this fall.

Read More... | Souce: ADV Films

Taiwanese Musician Accused of Copying Anime Theme

Date: 2005 August 30 06:30 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Anime

According to Anime News Network, angry fans of the anime series ‘Air’ are complaining that the opening theme song of the series, ‘Tori no Uta’ is extremely similar to a track on a Cd released earlier this month by SONY BMG Music Entertainment. The Cd which is titled ‘The Best of Shaun Yu’ features a piano-only music called "Melody" which is the 14th track on the Cd. Melody is listed as an original piece composed by Yu.

Fans of Air have said that Melody is virtually identical to Tori no Uta and have accused Yu of plagiarism.

Tori no Uta was composed by Key, The issue has been brought up on the forum on Key’s Official website however there was no response or statement yet left by Key.

Souce: Anime News Network

More Details About Honey & Clover Live-Action

Date: 2005 August 30 06:17 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Anime

More details about Honey & Clover becoming a Live-Action film.

According to the Anime News Network, Sakurai Sho (23), member of the popular J-Pop music group ARASHI, will play the lead male role as Takemoto Yuuta.

Other Cast members include: Aoi Yuu (20), Iseya Yusuke (29) Kase Ryo (30), and Seki Megumi (19).
The movie is scheduled to open in summer 2006 and will be directed by Masahiro Takada, a commercial advertisement director, making this his debut as a feature director.

Souce: Anime News Network

Naruto Airs in the US on September 10th

Date: 2005 August 28 21:21 | Posted By: Voxie

Category > Anime

Tipped as the next big (and much bigger) thing, after Beyblade, Dragonball Z and Yu Gi Oh!, US viewers should take note that Naruto first starts on Saturday, 10th September @ 9pm on Cartoon Network. A total of 52 episodes (2 seasons) have been acquired, out of a grand total of approximately 150 episodes (6 seasons) have seen the small screen in Japan so far.

More information/schedules will eventually be up the official website:
http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/naruto/index.html

Souce: Dexigner Design

Most Realistic Rei Ayanami Model Released

Date: 2005 August 28 18:59 | Posted By: Voxie

Category > Anime

Following Japan's largest hobby event, the recent Wonder Festival, I came across possibly the most realistic model of Rei Ayanami ever, or doll to be more precise. With the high detail and that infamous lucid expression, I reckon this Rei could rival any Barbie or Bratz doll, hands down!

Read More... | Souce: Cyber-Dyne Solid

Convention Report: Ayacon 2005

Date: 2005 August 27 19:33 | Posted By: Spike

Category > Events

Ayacon, one of the longest running UK Anime conventions, has repeated itself after a one year absence due to Amecon last year, and has certainly come back with one hell of a bang. Spanning three days from the 19th to the 22nd of August at Warwick Arts Centre just south of Coventry, this convention provided not only a bountiful selection of Anime, a masquerade and of course karaoke but also panels from a large variety of different sources, a pub quiz, two parties and even a concert from gothic j-rock group Blood. Boredom was never going to be an option...

Read More... | Souce: Ayacon

Inuyasha the Movie 3 to Screen at 15 Wal-Marts in US

Date: 2005 August 26 13:23 | Posted By: Voxie

Category > Anime

Purchase your groceries and watch a hot anime movie at the same time? Previously, this may have only been possible over a computer monitor! US anime fans have the pleasure of walking into their local Wal-Mart, and viewing Inuyasha Movie 3 'Swords of an Honorable Ruler'.

This is the third of a total of four movies so far for the popular series, originally a manga by Rumiko Takahashi.

"More than 4,000 fans will have the opportunity to screen INUYASHA THE MOVIE 3 for free in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta and Seattle." AWN Headline News.

The tour takes place at selected Wal-Mart stores, and has been running from 24th August until 18th September 2005! Shoppers will also recieve bonus Inuyasha gifts. Well, now you have a real reason to do the grocery shopping for your mom!

Souce: Awn Headline News

G4 Videogame TV Acquires 3 Anime Series

Date: 2005 August 26 13:07 | Posted By: Voxie

Category > Anime

Rahxephon, Cromartie High and Colorful have been acquired from ADV Films, by G4 Videogame TV. Highly acclaimed series Rahxephon will be first to premiere on the channel's late night session 'Barbed Wire Biscuit', on the 2nd September 2005.

US viewers can read up more at their website .

Souce: AWN Headline News

Is KyuuCON a Scam?

Date: 2005 August 25 17:36 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

After posting the press release from KyuuCon yesterday, it's been brought to our attention by various members of UK anime fandom that there is something fishy about KyuuCON. Firstly it appears that the venue mentioned the Plymouth Pavillions has not heard of KyuuCON or the organisers in question. The second major alarm bell is where the payments are going, into a personal bank account and not a building society account/non-profit account in the conventions name.

What's also interesting is their sudden change of heart, and the way they've just moved everything back a year. Plus this thread brought to our attention at the AyaCon Forum. At this current moment in time, based on what we have heard, we believe that KyuuCON is either very poorly organised or a cash grabbing scam, either way, we suggest you avoid KyuuCON for now.

Read More... | Souce: Anime Fandom

Howl's Moving Castle Premiere in the UK

Date: 2005 August 24 07:19 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Anime

According to Anime News Network the premiere of Howl’s Moving Castle in the U.K is set to be on the 2nd of September at 19:30 hrs at The British Academy (BAFTA - Princess Anne Theatre) 195 Piccadilly London, UK, to inaugurate BAFTA's London Japanese Film Festival.

A reception hosted by the Japanese Embassy at 18:30 is to be held before the screening. Tickets are £10 for the combined event for non BAFTA members. More information may be found on the BAFTA website.

Otaku will note that this is not the first screening of Howl's Moving Castle in the UK, since the first public screening was held in Cambridge and featured a Question and Answers session with Howl's original author Diana Wynne Jones.

Optimum Releasing have also launched www.howlsmovingcastlemovie.co.uk which features some lovely wallpaper in their downloads section.

Souce: Anime News Network

Press Blow Oldest Anime Claims Out of Proportion

Date: 2005 August 23 17:34 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Following on from our report of the oldest anime in Japan, it appears that it is more press hype than solid fact.

Anime expert Jonathan Clements sent us an e-mail with his take on the situation and highlights that most of the reports are merely speculative. Apparently the press have over exaggerated Matsumoto's guess into facts, currently their is very little evidence to support the claim that the film dates to 1907

Read More... | Souce: Jonathan Clements

Oldest Anime in Japan found

Date: 2005 August 20 07:03 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Anime

According to Mainichi Daily News, the oldest Japanese Animation film ever made was found in a Kyoto home. Natsuki Matsumoto was handed the animation film to research about its origins and determine the year it was produced.

Read More... | Souce: Mainichi

Dragon Ball Gt Special to Air on Toonami

Date: 2005 August 19 09:32 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Anime > TV

For those of you not at Ayacon you might be interested to know that the Dragon Ball GT TV special will be premiering on UK TV tonight at 5:30 pm on Toonami. The special is set after the events of Dragon Ball GT and follows Goku’s descendant Goku Jr.

VIZ Announces Zatch Bell Clothing Line

Date: 2005 August 17 21:55 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Anime

VIZ announces a clothing line based on hit anime Zatch Bell with Exquisite Apparel Corp.

Read More... | Souce: Anime News Network

World Cosplay Summit 2005 Winners Announced

Date: 2005 August 14 15:30 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

Following on from our earlier story, according to the Mainichi Daily News, a fantastic costume of Sirene from Devilman has won the top individual prize, Italian Giorgia Vecchini's costume even had Sirene's wings on her head, making it a huge and elaborate competitor in the competition!

The Mainichi Daily News site also has some photos of the finalists for this years summit. The competition had regional play offs in Asia, Europe and the USA.

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

AnimeToonz3 with Kristine Sa and DJ Jinnai

Date: 2005 August 14 14:38 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Nemesis Records have sent us the details on Kristine Sa and DJ Jinnai collaborative project AnimeToonz3.

According to Nemesis Records - "DJ Jinnai has officially been tapped to remix 7 Anime related tracks for Jellybean/Sony's third installment of the AnimeToonz CD series. This marks the first time that the AnimeToonz executive producers are using a true Anime remixer. AnimeToonz 3 will be available worldwide this October 2005."

Read More... | Souce: Nemesis Records

Kamikaze Girls to Hit U.S. Box Office

Date: 2005 August 11 21:25 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Anime

VIZ Media, LLC, has announced that they will be releasing the award winning Japanese film Kamikaze Girls theatrically in several major North American cities. The film follows others such as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away (which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature), Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence and most recently Howl’s Moving Castle. Kamikaze Girls will make its debut on September 9 in New York City at the Village East Cinemas, followed on September 16 at Los Angeles’ Landmark’s NuArt Theater, with additional bookings in Seattle, San Francisco and other cities.

Based on the hit novel by Novala Takemoto, which is set to be translated and released by VIZ Media in February 2006 as part of their Fiction Imprint line, Kamikaze Girls follows the adventures of two mis-matched girls, a Lolita-type named Momoko and a tough high school biker named Ichigo, whose strong personalities initially clash but eventually bind them together as they embark on a quest to find a legendary embroiderer. Starring hot young J-Pop talents Kyoko Fukada as Momoko and Anna Tsuchiya as Ichigo, the film became an immediate cult favorite in Japan with its complex, multilayered plot and eccentric and infectious brand of humor. It has also won several awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Best New Actor at the Yokohama Movie Awards, and Best New Director at the Fujimoto Awards. Further information about the film can be found at the website, www.kamikazegirls.net.

Souce: VIZ Media

The New Anime Companion

Date: 2005 August 08 17:50 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Fandom

Anime fans wanting to know more about all the various cultural references that pop up in their favorite anime can now rejoice. Anime News Network has announced that Stone Bridge Press, publisher of books about Japan, is releasing The Anime Companion 2: More... What's Japanese in Japanese Animation?, the follow-up to the popular book written by Gilles Poitras, who also writes the new volume.

Like its predecessor, The Anime Companion 2 contains glossary-style entries to help readers decipher anime's distinctive content, images and cultural motifs. Everything from city landmarks to food to clothing to historical figures is covered in fascinating detail, using illustrations anime images, film citations and numerous references to the related art of manga. With entries in both kanji (Japanese characters) and English, the book also contains maps of old provinces and current prefectures (and the 23 wards of Tokyo), making it an absolute must-have for those wanting to learn about Japan, whether they're otaku or not.

Souce: Anime News Network

Bleach for the Nintendo DS

Date: 2005 August 08 14:03 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Anime

According to Anime News Network, the popular anime/manga Bleach is set to become a game for Nintendo DS. Sega will team up with developer Treasure, best known for the adaptation of Astro Boy on the Gameboy advance.

The game: Bleach: Souten ni Kakeru Unmei is scheduled to be released in Japan in January of 2006 and the game will play in 2D and feature two fighting planes.

Sega was previously involved in the genre with their previous release of Bleach Advance: Kurenai ni Somaru Soul Society on GBA. No word yet on a state side release date. For some gameplay images visit: http://media.ds.ign.com/media/763/763827/imgs_1.html

Fans of Bleach should already know that a 3D beat 'em up is already available for the Sony PSP.

Souce: Anime News Network

London Anime Club is Next Weekend

Date: 2005 August 06 11:39 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

A quick reminder to our London based readers, the London Anime Club which is normally held on the first Sunday of every month, will be on 14th August so not to clash with the 63rd World Science Fiction Convention in Glasgow which has an anime events run this weekend.

Souce: London Anime Club

Black Jack Live-Action to be directed by Makoto Tezuka

Date: 2005 August 04 11:41 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Anime

According to Akadot the popular classic by the late Osamu Tezuka, Black Jack will become an animated movie and will be directed by Makoto Tezuka, Osamu's eldest son. The movie's release is scheduled for December 17th.

Makoto Tezuka took over directing the animated TV series of Black Jack since last October and singer Hiro's new release 'Clover' is to be Black Jack Ending theme song.

The Movie will be titled "Black Jack the two doctors of darkness" and the story is about the infamous protagonist Black Jack, an unlicensed genius surgeon whose service comes at impossibly high prices, and his rival Dr. Kiriko, who practices euthanasia rather thoughtlessly to end his patients' pain. The movie portrays the two doctors as they engage in a battle over life.

Official BLACK JACK site (Japanese) - http://blackjack.jp

Souce: Akadot

ADV to Screen Anime at Interation

Date: 2005 August 03 08:02 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Events

ADV Films UK have announced they will be screening a variety of anime at Sci-Fi convention Interaction. Interaction is running in Glasgow from August 4th-8th. This is a high profile convention which also boasts events such as the Hugo awards. ADV are also providing the centrepiece presentation for a talk by anime expert and author Jonathan Clements. We recommend you make time to see Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, Full Metal Panic, Voices of a Distant Star and if you still haven’t seen it Evangelion.

Read More... | Souce: ADV Films UK

AmeCon 2006 Details

Date: 2005 August 02 17:26 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

With AyaCon about to kick off in a few weeks, the AmeCon Crew have sent us the details of their Leicester based convention. Set to run from Friday 11th August to late on Sunday 13th in 2006 the convention looks like it's going to be good. The press release they've sent us has the full details and covers pretty much all the questions you could ask at this stage. It's great to see they've got the details sorted out even a year before the events set to run.

The guests include Monica Rial who was a real hoot at last years Amecon and interviewed really well, along with fellow voice actor Greg Ayres.

The AmeCon Crew have also decided to host a Cosplay Ball, which sounds exciting and attendees are advised to wear cosplay or formal wear (which basically means cosplay as Tuxedo Mask ^_-). The Otaku News Crew were at the first AmeCon and we've already paid the deposit for next years.

Read More... | Souce: Amecon

Mechademia Calls Out For Submissions

Date: 2005 August 02 17:21 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Fandom

New anime and manga-based academic journal Mechademia is looking for sbumissions for future issues.

Read More... | Souce: Anime News Network

Cosplay Parade at Nagoya

Date: 2005 August 01 10:40 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Anime

According to Mainichi Daily News about 100 cosplayers including nine foreign women surprised shoppers at Nagoya when they appeared in a cosplay parade at an Arcade in advance of the World Cosplay Summit 2005 to be held Aug. 7 at the Aichi Expo.

The Cosplayers left shoppers at the Osu Shopping Arcade delighted who gave them a sight they would normally not see everyday.

Ilsa, a 28-year-old woman working at the Expo's Belgian Pavilion and one of the cosplayers who hit the arcade, spoke up loudly for the costume culture.

Ilsa said "cosplay is now a word commonly used throughout the world." She added, "in Europe, cosplaying is not regarded as an activity only for otaku geeks."

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Adult Swim Announces Evangelion Start Date

Date: 2005 July 30 17:04 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Anime

In an update to a recent article, Anime News Network has announced a start date for the hit anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion, which is set to debut on the Adult Swim Network this fall. The show will air on Thursday nights, starting October 20th at 12:30 am. There is no specification as to whether this is Eastern or Central Standard Time.

In somewhat related news, new episodes of Full Metal Alchemist, the recent hit that debuted earlier this year, will also be debuting this fall. The new episodes will begin on Saturday, September 17 at midnight. Full Metal Alchemist tells the tale of Edward and Alphonse Elric, two brothers who search for a means to restore their bodies to normal following a failed attempt to restore their mother to life using alchemy.

Souce: Anime News Network

Doraemon the Movie Scheduled for 2006

Date: 2005 July 29 04:46 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Anime

According to Answers.com, the Fujiko Movie Studio announced that the 2005 Doreamon Movie:"Nobita no Kyoryuu" (Nobita's Dinosaur), was postponed until the spring of 2006.

Doraemon made its first debut in 1970 with stories being published in 45 books and after that an anime series was produced. In 1980 a series of animated films was made and made the series even more popular. For more information and to view the trailer of the new movie visit the Official Doraemon Movie website.

Souce: Answers.com

ADV UK DVD Releases for September 2005

Date: 2005 July 27 11:47 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Anime

ADV Films UK has sent us their press release concerning their September UK releases. This includes a special edition of Spriggan, which will include a soundtrack CD and new commentaries. September also sees the start of the UK release of Peacemaker. The September releases are as follows:

- Spriggan Special Edition
- Peacemaker Volume 1
- Mezzo Volume 2
- Aquarian Age Volume 2
- Chrono Crusade Volume 4
- Gad Guard Volume 5
- Get Backers Volume 5

The Otaku News Crew recommend Peacemaker if you like samurai anime (with pigs in) and Chrono Crusade since we're finding it enjoyable.

Read More... | Souce: ADV Films UK

ADV Announces September 13 Releases

Date: 2005 July 25 18:08 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > DVD

Those nice folks at ADV Films have sent us the details for their September 15 releases. The line up includes some more Full Metal Panic FUMOFFU, as well as the final part of Peacemaker, both of which are worth getting hold of.

Read More... | Souce: ADV Films

International Manga and Anime Festival Launches and Calls For Entrants

Date: 2005 July 25 15:49 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Art

This years IMAF has just launched. They're looking for international talent in the form of artists and animators to identify the best. Entrants have a chance to win some of the $75,000 prize fund which is divided between the categories. The best overall entry will win a generous $30,000!

The Otaku News Crew advise that our talented readers get to work, you've got until the 30th September 2005 to get your entries in!

Read More... | Souce: IMAF

New DBZ DVD Release in Japan

Date: 2005 July 24 06:49 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Anime > DVD

After the success of the limited edition Dragonbox sets in Japan Toei will be releasing the DVDs individually. The DVDs will span the entire DBZ series and include cleaned up footage. Z fans will want to note that this was a separate project to FUNimation’s re-release. Toei have also announced the final box set, which will be comprised of the Dragon Ball movies. DBZ fan site Daizenshuu Ex has a full run down on the various DBZ DVD editions as well as a translation of the press release.

Souce: Daizenshuu Ex

Full-Metal Alchemist Director Appeals to Filmgoers to Make Movie a Big Hit

Date: 2005 July 23 16:21 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Anime

According to Mainichi Daily News, Seiji Mizushima the director of the animated movie based on the hit Japanese comic "Full Metal Alchemist" urged filmgoers to get their teeth into the flick and make the movie possibly a great hit.

Read More... | Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Rapture TV to Show Anime

Date: 2005 July 21 06:04 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Anime > TV

UK TV channel Rapture which is re-launching in October is promising that it will be showing two half hour anime shows each week. The channel admits it still is in negotiation so it is still unknown which anime they plan to show.

Souce: Rapture TV

Transformers Movie Website Goes Live

Date: 2005 July 21 05:55 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Anime > Film

It was inevitable someone would make a big budget Transformers film, especially with the climate for anime inspired films. Rumours have been floating around for some time but Spielberg has finally confirmed the project and released some details. The film will be directed by Michael Bray with Spielberg as executive producer. The official website Transformers Live has a video up of Spielberg talking about his plans for the film, as well as various other film updates.

Souce: Transformers Live

Doraemon Coins To Be Released

Date: 2005 July 20 09:48 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Anime

According to the Mainichi Daily News, Japan Mint is going to release two sets of coins to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the serialization of the popular comic Doraemon.

The first set of coins contains six color-printed coins, from the one-yen coin to the 500-yen coin, and a silver medal.The coins come in a leather case and it was called "Proof Coin Set". The Coins will be on a first come first serve basis because a maximum of 60,000 coins will be produced and sold in Japan for 13,000 Yen each including tax and postage.

The Other Coin set in a Doraemon-style plastic case plays a tune when the case is opened. It will be sold for 2,300 Yen and unlimited orders will be taken during the application period.

Applications can be made by postcard between July 21 and Aug. 10. Deliveries will begin in late August.

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

UK PSP Anime Movies

Date: 2005 July 19 17:44 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Gaming > Consoles

UK gamers looking forward to the September release of the Sony PSP can also expect a blitz of UMD Movies for the handheld games console, anime titles that are going to be available so far include:

- Akira
- Ghost In The Shell
- Ghost In The Shell: On The Trail Of The Laughing Man
- Ghost In The Shell: Trouble At Home & Abroad
- La Blue Girl Returns
- Transformers The Movie

All of the above should be out on (or by) 5th September 2005 and will be priced around £10 - £15 depending on the title and the retailer.

Optimum Releasing will also be releasing Appleseed on DVD and UMD on 19th September.

It should be noted that PSP UMD Movies are region locked, so a UK PSP will only play Region 2 European and Japanese UMDs and not Region 1 US UMDs. Like DVDs UMDs can support multiple audio tracks and subtitles, so a single disc can ideally come with both the subbed and dubbed version of title.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Spirited Away Open Air Screening in London

Date: 2005 July 18 15:08 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

FilmFour have teamed up with Somerset House "to create a night at the movies like no other". They mention the "cutting edge technology and the splendour of the 18th century courtyard" and rightly so.

On Thursday 18th August, 6:30pm they'll be screening Studio Ghibli's superb Spirited Away, the only Japanese anime film to have won an Oscar. Tickets cost £12.50, with all phone and web bookings carrying an £1.75 charge per booking (not per ticket). As of yet it's not clear if the screening will be subbed or dubbed, but we will chase it up and post more details as soon as we find out.

If you haven't seen Spirited Away on a cinema screen yet, the Otaku News Crew highly recommend it.

Souce: Somerset House

Gundam Museum Gets Revamped

Date: 2005 July 18 14:39 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Those clever people at TechJapan have discovered an article on the renewal of the Gundam Museum which is run by Bandai. The renewal includes a "V Operations Cockpit Reproduction", where visitors can take pictures of themselves inside a Gundam cockpit, otaku will also want to see the 2 story (that's 5.6 meters / 18 feet) 1/1 scale model of Gundam A-Parts! The Otaku News Crew wonder if Bandai will release a 1/1 Perfect Grade kit of this. ^_-

Souce: TechJapan

More Otaku Test Details

Date: 2005 July 17 12:39 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

Following up on our earlier story on the Otaku Test, The Japan Times Online are running a story on how big the response has been, apparently publisher Biblos expected only 1,000 people would apply, but it seems that the actual number will be much bigger. The article also has example questions for the test and a brief history of the origin of otaku.

Souce: The Japan Times Online

Nana Becomes Live-Action

Date: 2005 July 13 14:14 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Anime

According to Mainichi Daily News, the top-selling Manga in Japan Nana has been made into a film. "Nana" which sold over 23 million copies of its twelve volumes is very popular among girls in Japan.

Read More... | Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Evangelion To Be On Adult Swim

Date: 2005 July 12 22:12 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Anime > TV

Anime News Network has announced that Neon Genesis Evangelion, the hit anime that revolutionized the giant robot genre in particular and anime in general, will be debuting on Adult Swim as part of its late night line-up. No air date has been released, but the show is said to be appearing sometime in the near future.

Read More... | Souce: Anime News Network

MinamiCon 12 Registrations Now Open

Date: 2005 July 12 13:50 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

London Anime Club President Dragon, has just informed us that registrations for the MinamiCon 12, the Southampton, UK based anime convention are now open. It's set for the 17th-19th March 2006. Registration costs £42 per person for the full weekend, and for an extra £10 you can also get a convention t-shirt.

Souce: MinamiCon 12

National Unified Otaku Proficiency Exam

Date: 2005 July 11 16:43 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

Who is the biggest otaku? Is your friend Steve a bigger otaku than you? If so why? Well publisher Biblos are going to solve this question finally by holding the first Japanese national unified otaku proficient exam in their August 5th Edition of Elfix Magazine.

They claim they want to nurture an "otaku elite to carry the otaku culture through the 21st century".

The Mainichi Daily News explain that the magazine will even grade their otaku awareness level if readers write their answers down on a postcard and send it to the Elfix staff. The best results will be printed in the October 5th edition of the magazine.

Read More... | Souce: Mainichi Daily News

VIZ Media Makes Licensing Deals for "Naruto"

Date: 2005 July 01 21:29 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Anime

VIZ Media, LLC has announced on its website that it has made licensing deals with Bandai America and Hot Topic, Inc. for one of its most popular titles, "Naruto", the action-comedy about a young ninja, infused with the spirit of a powerful fox-demon, who strives to be the greatest ninja of all and learns life lessons along the way. This comes following the announcement of the "Naruto" anime, currently one of the highest rated shows in Japan, debuting on Cartoon Network this fall. VIZ Media currently publishes the "Naruto" manga in the monthly anthology "Shonen Jump", as well as in graphic novel format.

Read More... | Souce: VIZ Media

Sky Blue eCard

Date: 2005 July 01 18:38 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

To remind our readers about the UK 8th July release of Sky Blue (the English name for Korean animation Wonderful Days), we're hosting a little eCard for you to feast your eyes on.

Read More... | Souce: Sky Blue UK Movie Website

Planet Tokyo Talks Anime Business Blues

Date: 2005 July 01 18:24 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > DVD

Planet Tokyo have posted an interesting article called Talking Anime Business Blues, it covers the current concern about the boom on anime in the USA, and the double edge sword that is fansubbing, which both creates a hype for a series and also takes away DVD sales since fans would already have it on fansub (this is a long running debate in anime fandom and most fans operate on the policy that if they have the fansub and like it, they'll buy the DVD, otherwise they'll delete it).

Souce: Planet Tokyo

Initial D Live-Action opens in Asia

Date: 2005 July 01 07:30 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Anime

The new live-action film Initial D opened last weekend in five Asian Markets and was number one in three of them. In Hong Kong it was shown on 99 screens, China-450 screens and Malaysia.

Based on the Japanese manga, Initial D began shooting on the 2nd June 2004 and it was directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, who also co-directed Infernal Affairs. The film was shot in locations in China and Japan and features Edison Chen as Takumi, the delivery boy who becomes a street racing legend.

Initial D was also the top Chinese-Language film in Taiwan and Singapore and was the top opening of the year in all three markets. No word was said yet on the U.S release and its Japanese Release is scheduled for September.

Souce: ICv2

CPM Offers Anime Classics at Lower Prices

Date: 2005 June 29 19:46 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Anime > DVD

Central Park Media has announced that it will be re-releasing a select number of its classic titles at the lower, more affordable price of $9.95 Suggested Retail Price. CPM joins fellow distributors ADV Films and U.S. Manga Corps in offering anime titles at such prices.

Read More... | Souce: Central Park Media

Nippon Animation Co Ordered to Pay Loyalties to Voice Actors

Date: 2005 June 29 06:54 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Anime

According to the Mainichi Daily News on Tuesday the Supreme Court ordered Japan's largest animation production company to pay royalties to voice actors and actresses for the sales of videotapes of animated films in which they acted.

Read More... | Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Aichi To Keep Satsuki's and Mei's House

Date: 2005 June 27 14:10 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Following on from several stories about Satsuki's and Mei's House, Anime News Network cite Yahoo! News Japan, stating that the popular attraction at the World Expo 2005 In Aichi, Japan will stay in Aichi. Previously several other groups and cities all took a keen interest in hosting the replica house from My Neighbor Totoro.

Apparently the house will be transferred to the Aichi prefecture in September, they will not have to pay to buy the house, however they have been concerned about it's high cost to maintain. The Otaku News Crew believe that the building must attract a lot of soot sprites!

Souce: Anime News Network

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