We've received news from US Anime Distributor Sentai Filmworks that they've licensed Grave of the Fireflies. The Ghibli classic is emotional story of the cold realities of war, and often forgotten victims, the children.
Sentai Filmworks will begin digital distribution of the title this winter and a digital restored DVD will be released next year.
Read More... | Souce: Sentai Filmworks
Category > Current Affairs
The folks at FrontTowardsGamer.com have got in touch with us to spread the word about their charity auction. They've got a copy of the Cowboy Bebop Movie Script, which has been autographed by the US voice actors.
The charity auction aims to raise money to build video game stuffed care packages for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Souce: FrontTowardsGamer.com
Category > Anime
Just a quick reminder for those in the US (or those who can buy DVDs and Blu-rays from the USA). Section 23 films have sent us details of the Blu-ray release of Clannad. The complete collection is out now.
Buy Clannad now from Amazon.com.
Read More... | Souce: Section23 Films
The good folks at Viz have sent us details of the up coming US release of Naruto Shippuden The Movie: Bonds which is due out on DVD and Blu-ray on Tuesday October 25th 2011.
To celebrate US based readers can watch on-line for a limited time a marathon of all five Naruto movies! The stream is avaiable this weekend until Sunday October 23rd 2011.
Read More... | Souce: VizAnime.com
Category > Anime
The excellent folks from Right Stuf/Nozomi are now streaming the anime Emma: A Victorian Romance on YouTube. They'll be showing one new episode of Emma per week for the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. They're showing the episodes subtitled. So if you fancy an anime series set in Victorian England, now's your chance to watch it for free.
You can get Series 1 and Series 2 from Amazon.com. You can also pre-order The Complete Series Limited Edition Bundle, which features Season 1 and Season 2, it's out on September 13th 2011.
Souce: Right Stuf
US based readers who can receive Mnet will want to tune in July 5th 2011 at 9:30pm ET/PT to catch Culture Japan which stars expert otaku Danny Choo. Each week Danny will explore different aspects of Japanese pop culture.
You can also catch the show on Crunchy Roll.
Read More... | Souce: Mnet
The good folks from Sentai Filmworks have sent us details about their latest license. They've got the US rights to Mardock Scramble The First Compression. We've seen it, it's good.
It's due out on DVD in the US this September 2011, both English dubbed and subbed. They're also planning a Blu-ray release sometime in 2012.
Read More... | Souce: Sentai Filmworks
Category > Events
US readers who can make it to Anaheim, California should head over to AM2 on July 1 to 3 2011 get a chance to view a special Passport holders only screening of Mai Mai Miracle.
We've seen Mai Mai Miracle, and must say it is worth seeing, especially on the big screen. It's everything you'd expect from a high budget Madhouse production. It's one of those films screaming out for a Blu-ray release. It's a title making the effort to get out and watch. It's in instant classic.
Read More... | Souce: AM2
Category > Anime
Whilst creative accounting is nothing new in the entertainment industry anime fans will no doubt be interested to hear TV Tokyo and Nihon Ad systems have pulled the rights to Yu-Gi-Oh! from 4kids, after an audit found a number of irregularities.
Read More... | Souce: Hollywood Reporter
The good folks at Sentai Filmworks have sent us details of the new US DVD release of You're Under Arrest: Fast & Furious Complete Collection, which goes on sale today (February 1st 2011). The 26 episode set is subtitled only, and is available from Amazon.com.
Read More... | Souce: Sentai Filmworks
Christmas hasn't even arrived yet and the folks at Manga Entertainment UK have sent us the details of the Summer Wars release due out on 28th March 2011 in the UK and February 15th 2011 in the US.
The Summer Wars Trailer is up on Apple's Website.
The UK release is available on DVD and Blu-ray along with a double pack with The Girl Who Leapt Through Time as it's by the same director Mamoru Hosoda.
Having seen Summer Wars at the BFI Southbank earlier this year, we can confirm that it's an excellent title, and well worth adding to your collection.
UK Release - 28th March 2011
Pre-order Summer Wars / The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Blu-Ray Double Pack from Amazon.co.uk
Pre-order Summer Wars DVD from Amazon.co.uk
Pre-order Summer Wars Blu-Ray from Amazon.co.uk
US Release - February 15th 2011
Pre-order Summer Wars Blu-Ray from Amazon.com
Pre-order Summer Wars DVD from Amazon.com
Souce: Manga Entertainment UK
Category > Anime
The good folks at Beez have sent us details of a a free preview of the first 14 minutes of episode 2 of Mobile Suit Gundam UC (Unicorn): The Second Coming of Char.
Gundam UC episode 2 is currently planned to be released November 12, 2010 on Blu-ray disc simultaneously in the US, Canada, and Taiwan.
It'll also get a PSN release too.
You can watch the first 14 minutes of Gundam Unicorn Episode 2 on the Bandai Channel.
Read More... | Souce: Bandai Channel
Category > Press Releases
Bandai Entertainment have sent us details fresh from NYAF including that Lucky Star Manga Volume 6 is out today. You can order it from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.
The original Mobile Suit Gundam will be released as a two part DVD under the Anime Legend range.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is going to get a US blu-ray release, details and dates still to be confirmed.
Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society is coming to blu-ray.
K-ON! Season 1 will be released on DVD and blu-ray, and will be released over 4 parts. Additionally they'll be releasing a standard and special addition which features a CD (with tracks to be confirmed).
Gundam 00 movie: A wakening of the Trailblazer has also got a North AMerican release, again details and release dates to be confirmed.
Read More... | Souce: Bandai Entertainment
Category > Press Releases
The good folks at Phaidon have sent us the details of their up coming book Manga Impact.
The book has 500 colour illustrations, 300 illustrated entries, and contributions from anime and manga experts such as Jonathan Clements and Tsugata Nobuyuki.
The book is due out November 2010.
Pre Order From Amazon.co.uk
Pre Order From Amazon.com
Read More... | Souce: Phaidon
Want zombies with your anime? The good folks at Sentai Filmworks and Anime Network are willing to provide you with infected flesh eating monsters! Sentai Filmworks have the license for High School of the Dead. and will be releasing it subbed and dubbed throughout North America.
The Anime Network will also be showing the first and second episode from Monday July 5th to subscribers in North America.
Read More... | Souce: Sentai Filmworks
Category > Manga
Multi-National Manga Anti-Piracy Coalition Formed
We've received some very interesting details from VIZ Media about the formation of a Multi-National Manga Anti-Piracy Coalition.It seems that the industry has grown tired of Scanlations - manga scanned into a digital format and distributed without the copyright holders consent. The coalition include the 36 members of Japan's Digital Comic Association, Square Enix, VIZ Media, TOKYOPOP and Yen Press.
Originally scanlations were manga translated by fans into their native language from Japanese. This can be seen as the manga equivalent of anime fansubs. Some scanlation sites branched out to scans of manga that was already official translated and licensed outside of Japan.
This has cost the manga publishing industry significant amounts of money, not just in lost book sales, but lost opportunities in the relatively new market of eBooks and mobile devices.
The coalition intend to target scanlation sites and aggregators of scanlation sites. They've drawn up a list of 30 sites to targeted for action. First they will ask the sites to cease distributing scanlations. If the sites fail to cease distributing further action will be taken depending on the jurisdiction of each site. Actions include legal injunctions against the sites, reporting the sites to governmental anti-piracy units of law enforcement, including the US Justice Department, local law enforcement agencies and the FBI.
Fans curious about piracy in the anime and manga industry should read the Pirate Anime FAQ.
This is not the first time the anime and manga industry has attempted to stop piracy in the industry, but this is the biggest and most coordinated international effort so far. With many companies in the industry forced to make cut backs, closing down offices, laying off staff, we wonder if this is the start of a new approach? Will more companies pursue legal options? Are fansubbers next?
Read More... | Souce: VIZ Media
Category > Anime
US Anime fans can now watch Vampire Knight on-line as it premiers on VizAnime.com. This streamed anime title is only available to people inside the US.
Read More... | Souce: Viz Anime
Category > Events
NY based fans of Japanese Cosplay Singing Maids will want to head over to the anime and Japanese Cultural event PJ "mini" Pop to see Reni Mimura . The event is set to run on Sunday May 23rd 2010 from 12:00 until 6:00pm at the The Dwyer Cultural Center in South Harlem.
Read More... | Souce: Reni\'s Blog
The good folks at Bandai Entertainment have sent details of the up coming US screenings of the new Haruhi Movie - The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya.
An English subtitled version of the film will be shown at the Viz Cinema in San Francisco from May 21st. The film will then be shown in Hawaii by Consolidated Theaters in mid-June.
Bandai also intend to release the film on DVD in the near future.
Read More... | Souce: Bandai Entertainment
Category > Anime
The good folks at Crunchyroll have sent us details of their latest streaming deal. They've started to show The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Fans looking for aliens, time travelers, and ESPers will be most pleased to hear that they intend to stream the second series later this year too. Crunchyroll's licence covers the Americas, the British Isles, Scandinavia, the Middle East and Africa.
Read More... | Souce: Crunchyroll
Category > Anime
Watching anime on-line is all the rage these days, with services like Crunchyroll leading the way. Viz Media have launched their own anime streaming service on VizAnime.com. Currently the site uses Hulu.com as a backend (which means that readers outside the US can't watch it).
They've got some great titles on there divided into 3 brands - Shonen Jump, Shojo Beat and Shonen Sunday. Highlights include Bleach, Death Note and Naruto, Honey and Clover and Nana. They've got something for everyone on there.
Read More... | Souce: Viz Anime
We've been sent the details about the Clannad English Dub from Sentai Filmworks. Up until now they've only been producing subtitle only titles. We don't have a release date yet. They also plan an upgrade offer for those who purchased the original subtitle only DVD. Sentai Filmworks intend to release Blue Drop, Ghost Hound, Legends of the Dark King - A Fist of the North Star Story and Tears to Tiara.
Read More... | Souce: Sentai Filmworks
Category > Events
US based anime fans who can get to Iowa should add a new convention to their diary. Set for June 18th to 20th 210 at Bettendorf QC Anime-zing!, it's run by the Mindbridge Foundation a not for profit corporation dedicated to fans of fiction, fantasy and so on.
Read More... | Souce: QC Anime-zing!
Currently all UK anime firms are revving up for the London MCM Expo on 24th-25th October 2009. Beez are no exception. Their stall will be in a different place than usual, they'll be teaming up with their corporate cousins Namco Bandai Partners.
They'll be holing a survey too, along with a give away as an incentive to fill it in. Plus they'll be selling some great titles on DVD too.
Read More... | Souce: Beez Entertainment
Category > Fandom
The good folks at MTV Iggy (which is focused on breakthrough music and pop-culture from around the globe) have sent us details of their new feature - Otaku Culture.
They've got a couple of videos up from Otakon 2009 in Baltimore. It includes some otaku steampunk culture along with a video on ball jointed dolls. They've also got details of J-Rockers VAMPS, and plenty more to explore too.
Souce: MTV Iggy
Category > Fandom
There are tons of dating sites on the internet. Lots are even specialist dating sites by interest. So it should come as no surprise that the clever folks at Fan Crush have set up a dating site for otaku - Otaku Crush.
Read More... | Souce: Otaku Crush
Category > Anime
US based Anime company ADV have closed. A detailed write up can be found on Anime News Network.
Apart from the asset transfers to other companies registered in Texas (where ADV was based), the details are still coming to light.
Below we've included the press release from ADV along with the press release from Section23 Films.
Read More... | Souce: ADV Films
Category > Events
Los Angeles, California anime fans who haven't already marked July 2nd to 5th 2009 on their calendars may really want to do so now. Anime Expo have anime director Seiji Mizushima as their official guest of honor.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Expo
Category > Anime
Anime fans will want to check out RightStuf's latest podcast. It features an interview with anime expert Helen McCarthy who promotes her book 500 Essential Anime Movies. In the podcast she explains how she narrowed down her choices in the book to just 500 shows. Along with how anime production and writing about anime has changed over the years.
Souce: RightStuf Anime Today Podcast
Category > Anime
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 to start airing on SciFi Channel in November.
Read More... | Souce: i09
Category > Fandom
Our US based readers who like the idea of appearing on TV should consider this request from MTV who are keen to do a True Life episode on Fanboys.
Read More... | Souce: MTV True Life
Category > Events
Fans of Studio Ghibli and those concerned with conservation will be interested to hear about the project to save Sayama Forest, which is also known as Totoro Forest. The project aims to auction off original artwork and sell a book with the collected art, in order to raise money to protect Sayama Forest.
"A fund-raising exhibition / auction to benefit the Totoro No Furusato National Fund, the Japanese non-profit foundation established by Oscar-winning filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, which is leading efforts to preserve and protect the Sayama Forest. The auction will feature original art created by internationally-acclaimed artists in the fields of animation, comic books, and illustration."
Fans will have to travel to Pixar Animation Studio in Emeryville, California.
Souce: Totoro Forest Project
Category > Culture
PiQ's July issue to be its last.
Read More... | Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Events
We've got some exciting news for American anime fans who can get to the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con International, where Tite Kubo the creator of Bleach will be making an appearance from July 25th.
Read More... | Souce: Viz
Category > Press Releases
We've received a press release from PiQ LLC, the magazine which is essentially the replacement for NewType USA. The magazine is due out from March 14th 2008. Issue 1 will feature articles about Appleseed: Ex Machina, Code Geass and xxxHOLiC.
Read More... | Souce: PiQ
Category > Events
Anime fans who can get to Amherst in New York, will want to go to Neo Nohcon on March 7th to 8th 2008. They've got an interesting line up of guests and events including Taisho-Koto and traditional Japanese Dance.
Read More... | Souce: Neo Nohcon
Category > Manga
News from the first annual New York Anime Festival this weekend: Manga sales in the U.S. are up, but sales of anime DVDs are down.
Read More... | Souce: Publishers Weekly
Category > Anime
New distributor BOST has launched offering several series streaming online in the US, Australia, New Guinea and the UK. There are several series up which cost 100 points (approx $1.99) per episode. For a limited time they are offering dating sim anime Keitai Shoujo for free ( Until February) and are ruining a poll to determine which ending they show.
Read More... | Souce: Animenewsnetwork.com
Category > Events
We've received a press release from The Slants an Asian dance/rock band from Portland, Oregon who will be playing at Sakura-Con 2008 the anime convention in Seattle, Washington state. This will be the 11th annual Sakura-Con and is set to run from March 28th to 30th. With attendance figures of over 10,000 at the 2007 convention, it proves that the convention is popular, and we recommend going to a large anime convention at least once. ^_^
Read More... | Souce: Sakura-Con
Category > Anime
In a joint TOEI and FUNimation panel at at Anime Expo some details finally emerged about the new FUNimation version of One Piece.
Cartoon Network US will continue to air One Piece with the new cast coming into effect as of season three. Happily it looks like the movies are also being to released, starting with movie 8 since it ties in with the Alabaster Arc (the last proper arc 4kids dubbed). Dub names will stay for the TV version and altered back on the DVDs.
Frankly this had better re-appear on UK TV or I shall be very mad...and broke Shonen Jump fangirl/sucker that I am.
Read More... | Souce: Animeonline.com
Category > Anime
The Sci Fi Channel (US) are to air regular anime with new Monday night block!
Read More... | Souce: ICv2
Following on from our story about the US Naruto Screenings, we've obtained the list of theaters that will screen Naruto The Movie: Ninja Clash in The Land of Snow. Which will be for one night only on June 6th, 2007. Our North American Naruto loving readers better book soon to avoid disappointment.
Read More... | Souce: Offical Naruto Movie Website
The good folks from Viz Media have sent us details about the North American screening of Naruto The Movie: Ninja Clash in The Land of Snow. This has been highly anticipated by Naruto fans. Viz are apparently doing a special one night only screening across 160 selected theaters on June 6th, 2007. So check your local listings. Registered subscribers of Shonen Jump magazine will be sent details to buy tickets on-line on April 27th, while tickets will go on sale to the general public on April 30th through the Fathom events website. As always we advise you to book early to avoid disappointment.
Update: US theater screening locations - Naruto The Movie: Ninja Clash in The Land of Snow
Read More... | Souce: Viz Media
Category > Anime
Viz media have acquired the rights to the Blue Dragon anime which is based on the game of the same name. Viz have semmingly acted fast since it only started airing in Japan on April 7 ,though we suspect that from the very begining the creators had an international market was in mind.
The series is animated by studio Pierrot who also also animate Naruto.
Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Anime
Every so often a news story breaks that send smiles rippling around the fan community. FUNimation have now acquired the licence to One Piece, and plan to start a brand new dub and uncut DVDs.
Hooray!
Read More... | Souce: Animeonline.com
Category > Events
Anime fans who can get to Boston, Massachusetts will want to go to Anime Boston 2007, on April 20th-22nd 2007, although all the advanced registrations are full, you can still turn up on the door to register. For our readers who like voice acting you'll want to go to enter their Voice Acting Contest where you can win a chance to record their own character in a new project. 2EastMusic will also be hosting a Songwriting Workshop.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Boston 2007
Category > Anime
The first Naruto movie hits US theaters this summer!
Update: US theater screening locations - Naruto The Movie: Ninja Clash in The Land of Snow
Read More... | Souce: VIZ Media, LLC
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 > 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
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