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Highlander: The Anime

Date: 2005 June 17 18:36

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The Highlander is back. And this time, he’s anime. Anime News Network announced that a 43-second trailer for a new anime film based on the cult sci-fi classic is available at Highlander-official.com. The 80-minute film, entitled "Highlander: Vengeance", is animated by Madhouse and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. It is expected to come out in spring of 2006.

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The "Highlander" franchise began back in 1986 with the release of the film starring Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod, an Immortal Scotsman born in the 16th century who survives to the modern day to do battle with the evil Kurgan, played by Clancy Brown. The film also starred Sean Connery as Connor’s mentor Ramirez, who teaches the Highlander the rules of being Immortal, the most important being that an Immortal can die if his head is cut off. Though not an immediate success, "Highlander" gained a cult following, sporting several sequels and, most notably, a TV series that starred Adrian Paul as Duncan MacLeod, Connor’s younger and equally Immortal clansman. Running for six seasons, the "Highlander" TV series was extremely popular among fans as it helped to expand on the mythos behind the story.

Though the new anime film marks the return of the franchise, this isn’t the first time "Highlander" has been animated. Back in 1994, "Highlander: The Animated Series" debuted on the USA Network, which featured a young Immortal named Quenten MacLeod journeying with his mentor Ramirez through a post-apocalyptic future Earth to gain the strength and knowledge needed to battle the evil Immortal Kortan. Though it ran for two seasons and forty episodes, "Highlander: The Animated Series" wasn’t well received by fans, as it was dumbed down for younger viewers, and has since been all but forgotten.

Details regarding the plot for "Vengeance" have yet to be released to the public. What is known is that the main character’s name is Colin MacLeod and that the plot seems to revolve around his quest for revenge, hence the title. Judging from the trailer, which shows Colin fighting against multiple opponents with his katana, the signature "Highlander" weapon used by both Connor and Duncan, and given that the animation is done by Madhouse, the studio that gave us "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust", and that the director is none other than Yoshiaki Kawajiri, the man behind the sword fight-heavy "Ninja Scroll", "Highlander: Vengeance" looks to be an amazing film that will be accepted by both "Highlander" and anime fans.

Source: Anime News Network
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