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Swansea Animation Days 2005

Date: 2005 October 01 11:27 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

It's almost time for SAND 2005, Swansea Animation Days, "a prestigious, international digital animation event that is establishing Wales as a premier location for leading animation business". Anime fans will be interested to know that Jonathan Clements will be there giving a talk entitled "Wrong About Anime"

The Western world has "discovered" anime half a dozen times since the 1960s. Jonathan Clements examines the history of our tempestuous relationship with Japanese animation, from hidden imports and secret deals, through the video nasty controversy, corporate subterfuge at toy corporations and political intrigues at the Oscars.

We've been to Jonathan's Newtype Anime Talk before and found it well worth attending.

Souce: Swansea Animation Days

Japanese Manga and Cultural Politics Lecture

Date: 2005 September 29 16:15 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

Author and anime expert Jonathan Clements has sent us details of the SOAS Japanese Manga and Cultural Politics Lecture and Discussion in London. This is due to take place at 7pm Tuesday 11th October, with free admission at the The Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre, SOAS. Since it's hosted by The School of Oriental and African Studies, you know it should be good.

IMAF 2005 Lines Up Top Speakers and New Anime

Date: 2005 September 26 17:29 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

With the competition deadline edging ever close, the nice folks at IMAF have sent us some more details for their London event.

Highlights include Sweatdrop Studios, a special screening of Millennium Actress, along with the Europe Premiere of Streetfighter - Alpha Generation. Even Garnier will be their with its Manga haircare range. The IMAF is certainly worth attending to see the wonderful range of entrants.

Aichi Expo Last Days

Date: 2005 September 24 11:36 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

The Mainichi Daily News are running an interesting story about the last few days of the Aichi Expo in Nagoya. As covered previously on Otaku News the Expo features the house from Totoro, along with Japanese companies showing off their robotic technology. The Expo has proved so popular that people are willing to queue overnight to enter. This Saturday 34,500 people queued outside the expo before it opened at 8:20 am. Some people have even been more than 50 times! With attendance like this it's clear to see that the Expo has proved hugely successful.

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Neo Awards - Time To Vote

Date: 2005 September 20 17:59 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

UK Anime Magazine Neo, are currently taking votes for their first Neo Awards "the only UK awards ceremony to celebrate the best in Asian Pop Culture" which will be held on Saturday 29th October.

Neo rightly point out that what makes the awards important is that the winner of each category is voted by the fans.

To vote all you have to do is download this PDF file, print it out, fill it out and post it to the address on the form. All voting forms have to be sent in by Friday 7th October to be counted.

Please note that the form is in PDF format, so if you have problems printing the file try downloading Adobe Acrobat.

Souce: Neo

Tokyo Games Show Cosplayers

Date: 2005 September 18 16:01 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

With the Tokyo Games Show well under way, so are the cosplayers that have invaded the event. The Mainichi Daily News has some excellent photos of the people there, including some really good Final Fantasy Advent Children and Naruto Cosplayers.

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Tokyo Game Show 2005

Date: 2005 September 17 13:45 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Gaming

It’s that time of year again when Otaku go all misty eyed- the Tokyo game show. So far the biggest announcement has to be from Nintendo, who has finally revealed the design of the Revolution's controller. It looks like a remote control but is totally wireless; games are controlled by pointing at the screen- and curiously will also work sideways when playing NES games. Sony disappointed though, as no PS3 games were yet playable.

Souce: Gamespot

Exclusive Howl's Moving Castle Preview Screening Offer

Date: 2005 September 15 18:57 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

With Howl's Moving Castle being launched in the UK from September 23rd every British anime fan is counting the days until they can see it on the big screen. It's already had a few special art house and festival showings in the UK, but these sold out ridiculously quickly. For our UK readers in the Hertfordshire area, we've managed to get exclusive preview screening tickets.

The good people at Cineworld in Stevenage have decided that Otaku News readers can come to this advanced screening for free! All you have to do is download this flyer, and be able to get to Stevenage Cineworld on Wednesday 21st September 2005 for 8:15pm. Present the flyer to the Cineworld staff to attend the screening. Please note that seats are subject to availability so turn up early if you really want to see Howl's Moving Castle!

Please note that the flyer is in PDF format, so if you have problems printing the file try downloading Adobe Acrobat.

Souce: Cineworld Stevenage

J-Pop Go Date Change

Date: 2005 September 11 16:41 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

Paul from J-Pop Go has sent us the latest details for the event. Apparently it looks like the date for the next London J-Pop Go is going to change. -

"Unfortunately the premiere of the new Ghost In The Shell film is on the same day (I only discovered this today) so the 28th is unlikely to happen."

They plan to push back until October, making sure the event doesn't clash with anything else.

Additionally J-Pop Go will also be providing music at the party for the forthcoming London Expo. - "Following on from the success of last year's event, this year's Expo continues to be a celebration of a variety of pop culture interests including film and TV. The Expo will see special guest stars, displays and a dealer's section. The event will also house a special Anime Village featuring a Cosplay Masquerade and exclusive big screen presentations. The Expo runs on the weekend of 29th/30th October".

It's good to see that the J-Pop Go Organisers are aware of other anime events and are proactively avoiding any calendar conflicts.

Souce: J-Pop Go

Anime/Manga Exposure Wanted for Geisha Event in 2006

Date: 2005 September 11 15:15 | Posted By: Voxie

Category > Culture

Following a post made at the Anime Cafe organisers have mentioned plans saying that they will be "the first people to bring real geisha to England"! Geisha being a standard unique to Japanese culture, curious otaku will now have access to this experience without paying the plane fare!

The event is not until May next year. Apart from the chance to view the beautiful kimono, there are also other Japanese-related events to be be held, including calligraphy and martial arts. More information, including prices and availability, are now on the organisers' website.

And finally, at present the organisers are welcoming venture from others, including maybe a mini manga/anime expo! If you're interested in having a workshop, table to sell your works, or even cosplaying, contact the organisers via the website link above, or email them directly: katie_c@tiscali.co.uk

Souce: Anime.org.uk

Time Out UK Magazine Give Away Howl Tickets

Date: 2005 September 05 15:08 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

Courtesy of Optimum Releasing, Time Out Magazine have 200 Howl's Moving Castle tickets for a special preview screening to give away! To enter read the instructions on their website and send a Stamped Address Envelope to them by the 13th of September.

Souce: Time Out

Firecracker Showcase 2005

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

Category > Anime > Film

Jonathan Clements has sent us details of the Firecracker Showcase 2005 in London, which will be screening Studio Ghibli's excellent Howl's Moving Castle, Appleseed, along with a Sonny Chiba triple bill featuring the live action version of Golgo 13 too (otaku will know Sonny plays Hattori Hanzo in Kill Bill).

Godzilla Uncut for the UK

Date: 2005 August 30 14:13 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Anime > Film

An uncut version of the original 1954 classic Godzilla will be released on 14th October for the first time uncut in the UK on DVD and for a limited run at selected cinemas. If you’ve seen the original Godzilla dubbed it’s likely to be the American re-edit which also featured Raymond Burr, so the uncut version is definatly worth a look for a darker take on everyones' favourite giant monster.

Souce: BFI

J-Rock Group Electric Eel Shock on Tour in UK

Date: 2005 August 28 22:06 | Posted By: Voxie

Category > Events

Hardcore J-rock and Visual Kei fans alike may want to listen in on this, Electric Eel Shock are on an international tour. This includes the UK, with gigs held from London to Glasgow.

The next gig will be on 30th August, in London.

A full list of the dates, times and venues can be seen on the official website, and are subject to change.

Souce: EES Official Website

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...

J-Pop Go September Details

Date: 2005 August 27 12:32 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

The people behind J-Pop Go have sent us the lastest details for the next event in September. The venue will be the same as the previous J-Pop Go, Fluid in London.

So keep Wednesday 28th September free!

KyuuCON 2006

Date: 2005 August 25 04:41 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Events

2006 looks to be a busy year for fans with the announcement of a third convention in the UK. KyuuCON 2006 will run from the 2nd - 4th of June at the Plymouth Pavillions. The convention will have a capacity of 1500 with the weekend price being £50.

Otaku Unite Launch TOKYOnoRADIO

Date: 2005 August 18 17:46 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Fandom

We’ve just been sent details from Otaku Unite, on their new project TOKYOnoRADIO, which will be selling a number of albums from various Japanese underground groups, including the 5.6.7.8's who are famous for the "woo-hoo" song heard in Kill Bill.

Otaku Unite also inform us that they will be taking pictures of cosplayers at Otakon for their Otaku Unite DVD a documentary on anime fandom in the US.

Amecon and Auchinawa Convention Details

Date: 2005 August 17 16:59 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Events

Those of you attending Ayacon and planning on attending next year's conventions Amecon 2006 (August 11th - 13th, 2006) and Auchinawa(November 23rd -
26th, 2006) will be interested in a joint registration scheme which will be running during Ayacon this weekend. The scheme will allow con goers to pay for one con in full and a deposit for the other at the same time.

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 Tokyo Beach Scene

Date: 2005 August 10 18:49 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

With the summer heat kicking in everyone wants to hit the beach. So in Tokyo sunbathers can visits the sands of Shibuya, where an artificial beach has been made available to the public for 9 days. 1,000 tons of white sand was imported from China to make this beach which has even has a special volleyball area. Built at a cost of 500m yen, it will also feature a concert, films and a fashion show. This original concept was inspired by the artificial beach made in Paris last year, and is a publicity stunt for SKY PerfecTV! who are hoping to attract around 200,000 eager visitors.

Souce: BBC News

Digi Charat Singing Group Auditions

Date: 2005 August 09 10:24 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Events

Synch-Point is holding auditions for an American version of DUP ( Dejiko, Ususa Puchiko) Digi Charat singing group. The deadline is tight but if you live in LA it’s certainly worth giving a shot.

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

Japan Manga Tour

Date: 2005 August 04 16:44 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Press Releases

UK Travel company Japan Journeys have sent us details of their package holiday Japan Manga Tour a package departing from London to Tokyo. The highlights include a visit to the fantastic Ghibli Museum, the historical Meiji Shrine, the fashionable Harajuku and the Aladdin's cave of an anime store that is Mandarake.

All of the above places are worth visiting for one reason or another from the cultural value, to the outright wacky. The Otaku News Crew suggest you add the locations to your list of places to visit, for when you're in Tokyo next! ^_-

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.

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.

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

NFT Screenings - Japanese Animation: Manga to Miyazaki

Date: 2005 July 28 17:53 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

It's always nice when you mention events before the press release is sent out, as we did with the Japanese Animation: Manga to Miyazaki season at the National Film Theatre.

The films selected are all a real treat, and anime who can get to London are spoilt for choice this August, Satoshi Kon's work is great and almost everyone would have heard about Hayao Miyazaki's superb films.

The Otaku News Crew will be attending a few of the screenings too, so if you see us (and know what we look like ^_-) don't be afraid to come up to us and say hello!

A&I Exhibition Report

Date: 2005 July 28 05:52 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Events

Last weekend saw this years Artists and Illustrators exhibition. The A&I is a regular event, but this year was the first in which anime and manga style art was highlighted. There were stands from art retailers Copic and Letraset, as well as UK manga style art studio Sweatdrop.

Makoto Shinkai in London

Date: 2005 July 27 11:57 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Events

Makoto Shinkai will be in London on August 12th to attend a screening of Voices of a Distant Star and She and Her cat at the NFT, which will be followed by a talk by the creator himself. VODS was animated, written and directed by Shinkai himself. We highly recommend it. For those who can’t make it the DVD is still available from ADV UK.

More information on the screening can be found on the NFT website . As we previously reported the NFT are screening several other anime as part of an anime season. For more information on the film click read more for the ADV Films UK press release.

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!

Save ConnectiCon

Date: 2005 July 23 21:41 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Events

Anime News Network has announced some bad news for ConnectiCon, the Connecticut-based multi-genre convention dedicated to anime, gaming, webcomics, science fiction, fantasy and more. Thanks to some last minute changes caused by "a series of misunderstandings", the organizers of the convention have incurred over $30,000 of personal debt.

Luckily for ConnectiCon, help is on the way. A group of webcomics, including Apple Geeks, MacHall, VG Cats and more, have organized a drive called "Save ConnectiCon" to help raise funds to help the convention with its financial troubles. The drive is based at a website, which has a members only section for individuals that donate $5.00 or more. This exclusive section includes artwork/wallpapers and other content from the webcomics involved. Also, according to Ananth Panagariya at Apple Geeks, some webcomics will also be putting original art on auction to help in raising money to save the event.

Donations are currently being accepted at the Save ConnectiCon website via Paypal. The drive has already managed to raise over $14,000 in under three days.

Souce: Anime News Network

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

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

J-Pop Go July Still Go!

Date: 2005 July 11 16:56 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

Our club bunny readers will be pleased to hear that despite recent tragic events in London, J-Pop Go July is indeed still Go and set for Wednesday 13th July. Tickets are still available at venue on the night.

The Otaku News Crew advise that you allow extra travel time to get the venue Fluid.

Regular contributor Voxie went to the last J-Pop go and has written a report of the event.

Oxford University Students To Peform In Tokyo

Date: 2005 July 09 14:29 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

According to the Mainichi Daily News, students from Oxford University will be performing Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors in Tokyo this August.

The students are from Oxford University Dramatic Society, the oldest theatre group in the UK, which has produced stars like Hugh Grant, Judi Dench and John Gielgud. So with out doubt the quality of their performance is going to be high.

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

J-Pop Go July!

Date: 2005 June 23 17:12 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

The funky people over at J-Pop Go have just told that that their tickets are now available for their next event. It'll be on Wednesday 13th July at Fluid in London. This time around you can buy their magazine separately from the tickets, so even if you can't go you can read up about all the latest J-Pop events.

Our very own resident club bunny Voxie has written a report on the first J-Pop Go too. ^_^

A Summer of Anime for the UK

Date: 2005 June 23 12:53 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Anime > Film

This summer is a great time to see some big name anime at UK film festivals. There’s the Cambridge Film Festival which is showing among others; Howl’s Moving Castle, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence and Steamboy. The NFT will also be having a Japanese animation season, no details are on the site but it’s rumoured that they are scheduling a number of Ghibli films. Neo Magazine is also running a competition in it’s current issue to win tickets to Sky Blue.

Souce: Otaku News

Only 49 Places Left at AyaCon

Date: 2005 June 21 19:07 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

Popular UK Anime convention AyaCon are now down to their last 49 places. The convention always proves a hit and once it has sold out getting a ticket to the event is very hard, normally people have to wait for registered members to cancel.

AyaCon 5 is set to be the biggest UK anime convention to date with 1200 fans in attendance. Currently hosting an anime convention of this size is tricky and it's always nice to know that the people running the convention have experience and a proven track record at organising anime conventions. So book now to avoid disappointment.

What will be interesting to see is where will anime conventions go after this. Anime and manga is getting increasingly popular in the UK and more events are being held all the time. Surely more people will want to go to anime conventions run by anime fans like AmeCon, AyaCon and MinamiCon, however there are a only a limited number of venues that can cater for a fan run anime convention in the UK larger than 1200 people, anything bigger and all sorts of logistical factors kick in making organising an event a lot more complex. The Otaku News Crew wonder what will happen next, will these conventions continue with the same capacity, or will they be able to find even bigger venues to hold larger events? Whatever happens we certainly look forward to future fan run anime conventions.

Souce: AyaCon

Tokyo Added to Live 8 charity concerts

Date: 2005 June 18 07:36 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Events

Bob Geldof announced on Friday that Tokyo had been added to the list of cities taking part in the live8 charity concerts taking place around the world. The Irish Singer also said "Three weeks ago Europe agreed, unbelievably, to double aid, throwing the ball back to the Yanks, the Japanese and the Canadians".

Tokyo was added together with other two cities: Toronto and Johannesburg, for the July 2 concerts.
Geldof said the latest additions were arranged to put pressure on the Japanese and Canadian governments to increase assistance to Africa.

Souce: Japan Today

Manga Special At Artists & Illustrators Exhibition

Date: 2005 June 12 14:58 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

Sonia Leong over at Sweatdrop Studios has just sent us some details about a special discount at The Artists & Illustrators Exhibition (21-24 July, Business Design Centre, London, UK). For more details read the full press release.

J-pop Go Returns

Date: 2005 June 06 13:26 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Events

Following on from its recent success J-pop Go is back at Fluid on the 13th July. Please click Read More for the latest press release.

IMAF 2005

Date: 2005 June 04 14:58 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Press Releases

Following on from last year’s competition, IMAF have announced a 2005 event and competition. The event part will this time will run for 5 days. The details have yet to be confirmed please click ‘ Read More’ for the press release.

Antarctic Press To Be At A-Kon

Date: 2005 June 02 18:51 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Events

Antarctic Press, the independent company that is considered to be the forerunner of American Manga, has announced that they will be guests at this year’s A-Kon anime convention in Dallas, TX June 3-5. This is hot off the company’s recent appearance at Chicago’s Anime Central last May.

Movix Kyoto: Massive multiplex movie theater opens

Date: 2005 June 01 15:12 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Current Affairs

According to Anime News Service, on the 23rd April Shochiku celebrated its 110th anniversary and saw the opening of Movix Kyoto, which covers 7 stories, 12 screens and 2,563 seats. The massive complex will host Kyoto’s first DLP screen as well as TAD sound. This is the largest multiplex movie theater in western Japan. Tickets for the movies can be bought online or via mobile phones and all screens offer Dolby Surround EX, stadium seating and Movix original highback seating. Movix Kyoto will offer big screen digital presentations of Kabuki Plays which were called "Cinema Kabuki".

Souce: Anime news service

Hayao Miyazaki &Toshio Suzuki at US Howl's premiere

Date: 2005 May 31 04:37 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Production > Studio Ghibli

Hayao Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki will be among other guest attending the US premiere of Howl’s moving castle. The premiere takes place on June 6th in New York. Many of the cast members for the dub also look to be present.

Souce: Yahoo

Blood At AyaCon

Date: 2005 May 19 17:57 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

The popular UK anime convention AyaCon have announced that their guests for this year will be visual kei band Blood. The last AyaCon had MegaTokyo artist Fred Gallagher who proved to be an excellent choice (a detailed report can be found here).

This seems like an interesting choice for guests, since Blood do not have a direct connection to Anime fandom, unlike MegaTokyo which is read by many anime fans. The Otaku News Crew wonder if more Visual Kei, J-Pop and J-Rock fans will register for the convention, who have no real interested in anime, with just over 300 places left at the time of writing this article AyaCon is selling out fast normally the last 200 or so places tend to go very quickly. We also wonder if the popular J-Pop/Rock party at AmeCon last year had any influence on the committee members.

It's good to see that UK anime conventions are experimenting with the type of guests they have and also take the standard anime convention in a new direction. This is the fifth AyaCon, and based on our previous experiences there the convention is normally very well run and certainlly well worth attending.

Interaction to Preview Howl's Moving Castle

Date: 2005 May 12 18:47 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

We've just received some very exciting news about Interaction, the 63rd World Science Fiction Convention, which will be previewing Howl's Moving Castle. It's the long awaited latest movie from Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki, who is also responsible for Spirited Away (the first anime film to have won an Oscar).

They'll also be showing anime musical Interstella 5555, with music from Daft Punk, it's directed by Leiji Matsumoto & Kazuhisa Takenôchi, and has the distinctive Matsumoto character designs, even if they are blue aliens instead of humans! The convention are even screening Appleseed, a CGI movie based on the popular manga by Masamune Shirow (who is best known for Ghost In The Shell).

It appears that the event coordinator David 'Dragon' Cotterill has been a busy man, not only has he helped to secure the film screenings, but he has also managed to get leading anime experts like Jonathan Clements (co-author of the Anime Encyclopedia and the Dorama Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese TV Drama since 1953), to step onboard to run panels and discussions.

The Otaku News Crew are pleased to report that this makes the convention worth while for anime fans, since the film line up is interesting, and being the first to see Howl's Moving Castle in the UK makes it worth the visit alone! It's also refreshing to see that they've got established and experienced anime experts who actually know what they are talking about, more recently we've noticed that there are quite self declared experts appearing at smaller events who have only really got into anime because it's "cool", in reality such people jumping on the bandwagon know little and often turn events into disasters. We've seen Jonathan at previous events and found him to be entertaining and informative.

ADV Films Launches New Titles Exclusively At London Expo

Date: 2005 May 12 17:49 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

With the London Expo this weekend, the anime village is beginning to sound more exciting the more we hear about it. Sweatdrop will be there, and ADV Films UK have just revealed that they will screening some of their titles in exclusive first showings! This includes Gravion, DNAngel and Mezzo.

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