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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The Mainichi Daily News are currently running an article about the success of anime and manga in the US. Reporting from Anime Expo, the article focuses on how anime and manga is becoming more mainstream and also more popular with girls. This trend has been seen in the US for a number of years now, with female convention attendance growing strongly each year. Interestingly this trend is also being mirrored in other fan events across the world too, four or five years ago UK anime fandom used to be the sole domain of rather geeky males, now the UK anime scene also has growing female attendance, along with more mainstream acceptance.
Souce: Mainichi Daily News
Category > Anime
Anime News Network has announced that IGPX, the hit original Cartoon Network series produced in collaboration with Production I.G., will be moving to a new night and time. The futuristic racing show will air on Friday nights at 12:00 AM, Eastern Standard Time, beginning July 21. The series originally aired on Saturday nights as part of Cartoon Network's weekend Toonami line-up, and is returning after a brief hiatus. No reasons for the time change have been given at this time.
Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Anime
Action adventure series Beet the Vandel Buster has been licenced by Illumitoon Entertainment, a new company formed by ex-FUNimation employees.
Beet is based on a manga of the same name by creative team Riku Sanjo and Kôji Inada who are well known for their work on the Dragon Quest manga Dai no Daiboken.
Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Anime
Another day another list, ICV2 has compiled a list of the most powerful people in the anime industry, along with lists of the hotest anime and manga. FUNimation's Gen Fukunaga comes out on top, one place above ADV's John Ledford. The hottest manga property is unsurprisingly Naruto, which is oddly only sixth in the anime listings! Instead Advent Children and Howl's Moving Castle take the top two slots, with the twelfth DBZ movie taking third place!
Souce: ICV2
Category > Anime
According to Figures.com, Southern Island announced that has acquired the rights to distribute Samurai 7 Action Figures, statues and busts. At Comic-Con there will be an exclusive set of 5 " scale Samurai 7 action figures produced by Organic. The set of 7 pieces will be limited to only 50 pieces at the show and will be sold at $45. For a closer look at the figures click here.
Souce: Figures.com
Category > Anime
FUNimation teams up with Tokyopop to re-release DVD titles.
Read More... | Souce: FUNimation Entertainment
Category > Anime
Bad news for American anime fans. Anime News Network has reported that Anime Forest.com, the popular on-line rental site, will be shutting down after three years of service. An e-mail was sent out to customers of the site informing them of the closing, though reasons as to why were not given. Per-rental services ceased on April 7th, while subscription services will end on April 30. Anime Forest thanks their customers for their support in the e-mail. They will be missed.
Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Anime
Here's another update to the upcoming addition of the hit supernatural action series Bleach to the late night Adult Swim line-up. Anime News Network has announced that the show will premiere on a September date of this year. An official set date for the series has not yet been announced.
Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Anime
Here's a follow-up to a piece of news from last week regarding VIZ Media's appointment as Master Licensor to the anime series Bleach in America and Europe. Anime News Network has announced that the anime series, based on the manga by Tite Kubo, will appear on Adult Swim as part of their fall roster. It will join other anime titles such as the returning Inu-Yasha and Eureka 7, which will debut this April. No premiere date for the series has been announced at this time.
Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Anime
The release dates for the next volumes of Tenchi Muyo are out, though fans will have to wait a while longer.
Read More... | Souce: FUNimation
Category > Anime
VIZ announces launch of new Shojo Beat video line for titles of related genre.
Read More... | Souce: VIZ Media
Category > Anime
Adult Swim to start featuring classic and new shows on website, seven days a week.
Read More... | Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Anime
The brilliant Crayon Shin-chan, has been licensed by FUNimation. The show has previously been aired on Jetix in an edited form, though still remained funny. This is great news for Shin-chan fans as hopefully previously unseen material such as the surreal Shin-chan move, will finally be available.
Souce: Anime UK News
Category > Anime
Following on from offering torrents, ADV is now also offering selected content in podcast format. For those of you who don't have a portable media player you'll be pleased to know that the files are playable on an ordinary computer.
Souce: ADV Films
We've just been sent the press release from JAST USA, about a rather novel PC game for a certain type of anime fan. Yep, we're talking Yaoi (or boys love). Appropriately for this kind of game, Enzai - Falsely Accused, the action takes place in a prison ^_- (our resident expert Spike's going to love this).
Read More... | Souce: JAST USA
Category > Anime
Following up on a recent announcement of FUNimation Entertainment, Ltd's acquirement of Negima, the anime series based on Ken Akamatsu's latest manga about a boy wizard teaching English at a girl’s school in Japan, Anime Insider announced in their 2006 Preview issue some more of the cast for the English dub. The series is due out later this year, though there is no official date for the release.
Greg Ayres is still up to voice main character Negi Springfield, while Luci Christian (Full Metal Panic, Azumanga Daioh) will play his hot tempered student Asuna. Other actresses for the mostly female cast include Laura Bailey (Fruits Basket), Monica Rial (Excel Saga, Burst Angel) and Caitlin Glass (Fullmetal Alchemist). With the 30+ students in Negi's class (including fortune teller Konoka, shy bookworm Nodoka, haughty rich girl Ayaka, half-demon kendoist Setsuna, vampire girl Evangeline, ninja girl Kaede and many more) and Akamatsu’s plans to develop them all with their own storylines, Negima could very contain one the largest voice casts for an anime series, Japanese or English.
Souce: Anime Insider
The nice folks over at Turner Classic Movies have sent us the following details about their Miyazaki movie season and their Sweepstake. Details as follows -
For the month of January, Turner Classic Movies will be airing Hayao Miyazaki anime films every Thursday beginning at 8pm EST. In conjunction with these airings, TCM is offering fans an opportunity to enter The Ultimate Hayao Miyazaki DVD & Book Sweepstakes! One lucky winner will receive a gift collection featuring works by legendary Japanese Animator Hayao Miyazaki. 50 first prize winners will receive a book and a DVD from the Miyazaki collection. To enter the sweepstakes please have you Miyazaki fans click the following web address: www.turnerclassicmovies.com/sweepstake/index.jsp
Souce: Turner Classic Movies
Category > Events
Anime-Cons.com have just published an article with the attendance figures for the top 10 largest anime conventions in the US. This year Anime Expo gets the number 1 spot with 33,000 attendees including attendees, guests, staff, dealers etc). Otakon get place with 22,000 paid attendees., while third place goes to A-Kon with 10,000 paid attendees, which is a drastic difference from the top two places. What makes this article better than the average website post is that Anime-Cons.com actually go to the effort of explaining the figures, and how they got them, which allows you get a better idea of what each convention is counting. They also have a nice disclaimer stating that biggest does not always equal best, it just means that more people went.
Souce: Anime-Cons.com
Category > Anime
Unfortunately for us hugely popular gaming site IGN aren't seeking the Otaku News Crew, but they are seeking freelancers who love anime and manga! So if you live in the US, are over 18 and fancy being a freelance writer, why not drop them a line, they'll even pay you! If on the other hand you want to work for free and support grassroots anime fandom then why not contact us! We can't pay you, but we can always give you a sense of satisfaction that is better than money, (honest) and since we're also a lot slacker about deadlines too! ^_-
Souce: IGN
Studio Ghibli have officially announced their next movie, which is due to hit Japan in July 2006. Gedo Senki (Gedo War History) is based on Ursula K. Le Guin's Tales from Earthsea Collection. Controversially Hayao Miyazaki son, Goro Miyazaki will be directing the film.
Read More... | Souce: Studio Ghibli
Category > Anime
FUNimation announced that they will release Negima! on DVD sometime in 2006.
Read More... | Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Anime
The new Apple iPod can play video files and Central Park Media have announced that they are the first anime company to provide content for it. This is an adventurous move, since CPM have also started to release content on the PSP to download too. It's always good to see that anime companies are willing to experiment with new platforms to show anime.
Read More... | Souce: Central Park Media
Category > Anime
Cowboy Bebop sells over one million copies in the U.S.
Read More... | Souce: Bandai Entertainment
Category > Anime
Three hit anime series from ADV Films appearing on G4 this fall.
Read More... | Souce: ADV Films
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
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
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
Category > Anime
VIZ announces a clothing line based on hit anime Zatch Bell with Exquisite Apparel Corp.
Read More... | Souce: Anime News Network
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
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
Category > Fandom
New anime and manga-based academic journal Mechademia is looking for sbumissions for future issues.
Read More... | Souce: Anime News Network
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
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
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
Category > Anime
According to ICv2 FUNimation has given the rights to Southern Island LLC. of Phoenix Arizona to create action figures for Case-Closed, Full-Metal Alchemist, Blue Gender and Fruits Basket.
The four-year licenses will allow Southern Island to develop highly articulated 6" to 8" action figures for all four popular anime series as well as deluxe 10" to 12" action figures, plus busts and statues for Fruits Basket and Blue Gender. Action figures from all four properties should be available in 2006, with prototypes exhibited as early as the American International Fall Toy Show in October.
Souce: ICv2
Category > Anime
Manga Entertainment has announced that they will be releasing the two movies based on the hit anime series "Neon Genesis Evangelion", "Death & Rebirth" and "The End of Evangelion", in a special edition box set. The set is set to be released on July 26, 2005 with a suggested retail price of $49.98.
Read More... | Souce: Manga Entertainment
Category > Anime
FUNimation Productions, Ltd, which has brought numerous anime titles such as Dragonball Z, Yu Yu Hakusho and most recently Fullmetal Alchemist to American audiences, announced on its website earlier this month that they will be changing their name, following the recent purchase of the company by the Navarre Corporation. "Nothing major," according to the announcement, "just a name that more accurately reflects our company's evolution."
Read More... | Souce: FUNimation
Category > Anime
According to ICv2 12" and 7" collectible Dolls of the famous series Princess Ai will be available for sale this summer. Bleeding Edge and LA Based Collectible Manufacturer will be manufacturing the line of collectible dolls.
Read More... | Souce: ICv2
Category > Anime
Anime News Network are currently highlighting a story on Modojo.com about anime on Sony's PSP Handheld system, Geneon Entertainment plan to release Appleseed and Samurai Champloo on UMD on July 5 in North America. Appleseed will be priced at $19.95 only a few cents less than the DVD version, while Samurai Champloo will be $14.98, with the DVD version around $23. It should be noted that the UMD versions will not have the extras that the full DVD versions will have. For more details check a full report on Video Business Online
Souce: Anime News Network
Hayao Miyazaki's latest animated film Howl's Moving Castle, is set to debut in the US on June 10th in L.A, New York and San Francisco and is set to expand to 60 cities by June 17th. Howl's Moving Castle was released nearly a year ago in Japan, bringing in $100 million at the box office.
Read More... | Souce: ICv2
Category > Anime
Those nice folks from Newtype USA have sent us the details of their April Issue, which has features on Fearless Females (including the cute and shocking Elfen Lied and Gunslinger Girl), along an with interview from Seiji Mizushima the director of Fullmetal Alchemist. The free DVD includes the first episodes of Maburaho and Gravion Zwei.
Read More... | Souce: Newtype USA
Category > Press Releases
The folks at Newtype USA have sent us the details about the March 2005 Issue of their magazine.
They've got some Madlax artwork on the cover that has been exclusively drawn for the Newtype USA, they've also got more coverage of Fullmetal Alchemist and Samurai Champloo, along with Maburaho and Scrapped Princess. The cover DVD has both dub and sub versions of Cromartie High School and Divergence Eve.
Newtype USA Vol. 4, Issue 3 will be available March 1, 2005.
Read More... | Souce: Newtype USA