Fans of GLAY in New York will want to head over the to Big Cinemas Manhattan Theatre, located at 239 East 59th Street (between 2nd and 3rd Ave) at 8:30pm on Friday October 12th 2012 for the Premiere of the GLAY Convert Film - Live 2012 The Suite Room in Osaka Nagai Stadium.
Read More... | Souce: Live Viewing Japan
Category > Anime
US anime label Sentai Filmworks announces three licence acquisitions for release in US/Canada in late 2012 via Digital Distribution, DVD and Blu Ray.
Read More... | Souce: Sentai Filmworks
US anime licenser Sentai Filmworks has announced they have licensed the Makoto Shinkai movie Children Who Chase Lost Voices, for release later this year. The company has stated that the film will get a DVD and Blu-Ray release.
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
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 > 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
Fans of Eden of the East the excellent anime series from Kenji Kamiyama and Production I.G. will be pleased to hear that the first movie Eden Of The East: The King of Eden is out soon. The highly anticipated release follows on from the series.
It's due out on Blu-ray and DVD on Tuesday April 26th 2011 in the USA from Funimation. While the Blu-ray and DVD is scheduled Monday 6th June 2011 in the UK from Manga Entertainment UK.
As always you can pre-order the DVD or Blu-ray from Amazon and take advantage of their pre-order price guarantee.
Pre-order the Blu-ray from Amazon.com in the USA.
Pre-order the DVD from Amazon.com in the USA.
Pre-order the Blu-ray from Amazon.co.uk in the UK.
Pre-order the DVD from Amazon.co.uk in the UK.
Souce: Funimation
San Francisco anime fans are in for a treat this month, as VIZ Cinema will be screening the Evangelion movies, Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone and Evangelion 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance. The January 2011 screenings are well worth going to if you can.
Evangelion 1.0 will be shown from Monday January 17th through to Thursday January 20th, while Evangelion 2.0 will be shown from Friday January 21st through to Thursday January 27th.
Read More... | Souce: VIZ Cinema
The good folks from New People, Dark Horse Comics and NCM Fathom have sent us details about the world premiere of the live action version of GANTZ, which includes 325 US movie theaters. It's due to hit the big screen on Thursday, January 20th, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT / 6:00 p.m. MT / 8:30 p.m. PT.
For a complete list of movie theaters visit the Fathom Events Website.
Read More... | Souce: Fathom Events
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
Fans of Japanese cuisine and film in San Francisco will want to head over to the U.S. Premiere of Eatrip on Saturday April 10th 2010.
"Eatrip explores the interpersonal relationships that food nurtures. This documentary includes interviews with actor Tadanobu Asano, singer UA, tea master Sen Souoku, and many others. It takes you on a journey throughout Japan to look at how life can be led optimally through the daily ritual of eating. To eat is indeed to live. Life is just an "eating trip" (eatrip)."
Read More... | Souce: VIZ Cinema
A live action version of Blood the Last Vampire is due to hit the cinemas soon! Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group, have acquired the rights for screenings in the US. For more details check out the official website. There's no release date yet, but it'll be hitting the screens this summer!
Read More... | Souce: Blood the Last Vampire Movie Website
The good people from Viz Picture have sent us details of the US DVD release of the live action feature film version of Death Note. Which is due to hit the shelves on September 16th 2008.
Read More... | Souce: Viz Pictures
Optimum are releasing the latest Ghibli Feature Tales from Earthsea in the UK on a limited number on cinema screens on August the 3rd this will be followed by a DVD release. We take a look at the dubbed version of Goro Miyazaki's debut film.
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News
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
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
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 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
We've just been sent some interesting news from Viz Pictures in the US, who will be screening a Taste of Tea across New York, Chicago, Seattle and Portland. It's a live action flick, from the writer/director Katsuhito Ishii, who directed Shark Skin Man & Peach Hip Girl, Party Seven and the animated section of Kill Bill Volume 1.
US readers can catch the screenings at the following venues:
New York
General opening: February 16-22, 2007
The ImaginAsian
239 East 59th St., New York 10022
http://www.theimaginasian.com
Chicago
General opening: March 2-8, 2007
FACETS CINEMATHEQUE
1517 West Fullerton Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614
http://www.facets.org/asticat
Seattle
March 16-22, 2007
GRAND ILLUSION CINEMA
1403 NE 50th St., Seattle, WA 98105
http://www.grandillusioncinema.org
Portland
April 6-12, 2007
The Hollywood Theatre
4122 N.E. Sandy Blvd., Portland, OR 97212
http://www.hollywoodtheatre.org
Read More... | Souce: Viz Pictures
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
Larry and Andy Wachowski, creators of the hit Matrix films will bring the classic anime to the big screen in 2008. The movie will also be produced by Die Hard and Matrix producer Joel Silver.
Read More... | Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Production > Studio Ghibli
In an article in the New York Times it's confirmed that the company that made the Earthsea mini-series is still sitting on the rights, meaning no Earthsea until 2009.
Le Guin has already spoken out about both projects on her website and this article just confirms what she's been saying.
Souce: Anime News Network
Friday the 13th was the best day to release The Grudge 2 as Sony Pictures' horror sequel made an estimated $22 million over the weekend to lead the film industry at the box office. The movie made its return at the low end of expectations and raked in less money than its predecessor, The Grudge, at least that is what was said by the Sunday's studio estimates.
Souce: Anime News Service
Densha Otoku fans will be pleased to discover that Viz Media has licenced the film, which will be realised via it's new sister company Viz pictures. The DVD will be released January 2007, Viz also have the rights to the Densha Otoku manga which will debut in English in October.
Souce: Anime on DVD
ANN are reporting that the US premiere of the Full Metal Alchemist film will be at Anime Expo. Fans will be pleased to note that guests from both the Japanese and English versions will be present. Seiji Mizushima and Romi Paku will be attending from Japan, whilst Mike McFarland and Vic Mignogna will be representing FUNimation.
Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Manga
There is an interesting article on Manga News covering a survey conducted by Oricon about what manga fans want to see adapted into a Hollywood movie.
Read More... | Souce: Manga 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
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
Central Park Media have just sent us details about their Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek website. In addition to information about the CG animation's awards, creators, and English and Japanese voice actors (including Junko Takeuchi - the voice of Naruto), there's a special video recorded at this year's San Diego Comic-Con.
The DVD is due for release on October 11.
Souce: Central Park Media
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 > Manga
More movies based on Japanese Manga are taking Hollywood by storm. Hitoshi Iwaaki's popular manga Kiseiju is going to remade by Hollywood.
Takashi Shimizu, who made his Hollywood debut with the remake The Grudge, will be directing this project by New Line Cinema Productions. Shimizu will be a supervisor in the writing of the script and the film will be produced by his partner Takashige Ichise, as well as Don Murphy of Angry Films and Lisa Henson and Kristine Belson of Henson Pictures. The English title is Parasyte and it is said that production will begin once the sequel to The Grudge is finished.
Souce: Akadot
Category > Manga
According to Akadot, the popular manga of Naoki Urasawa 'MONSTER' will become a Hollywood Remake. The project that has been in the midst of production. Newline Cinema has hired Josh Olsen as the screenwriter, he is also known for the writing scripts for low budget movies including "A History of Violence," "Lethal Trigger," and "Killer Bugs". The contract contract allows for the possibility of sequels.
Souce: Akadot
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
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
Nausicaa.net have discovered from "sources close to Disney" that Nausicaa will receive a small scale US theatrical release this summer. Ghibli films always look great on the big screen and we highly recommend that our US readers catch this move when it does get released!
Souce: Nausicaa.net
The folks at Geneon have sent us the details of their Theatrical release of the new Appleseed Movie. Based on the manga by Shirow Masamune (Ghost In the Shell, Dominon Tank Police to name a few). They're marketing it as "3D Live Anime", an usual title for a CG movie. It's certainlly in the anime style, but many fans are divided and a few think it looks like a long cut scene from a PlayStation 2 game, others think it's superb. The Otaku News Crew can't comment yet, since we haven't seen it.
US fans can catch it from January 14th a full list of cinemas screening the movie can be found on the Offical Appleseed Movie Website.
Read More... | Souce: Geneon\'s Offical Appleseed Movie Website
Category > Events
We at Otaku News are offering our readers in L.A. (in the USA of course ^_-) a chance to attend the Sky Blue Screenings. We've got two pairs of tickets to give away!
OK, we know it's Korean animation and not Japanese anime, but Koreans have been doing inbetweening and other outsourcing for the Japanese animation industry for years now.
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News
We've just heard from Go Fish Pictures that Ghost In the Shell 2: Innocence has grossed an estimated $1,011,000 USD to date. According to Go Fish, this makes it the top grossing anime movie ever on a limited release with less than 100 screens, and the number 7 anime film in history.
Read More... | Souce: Go Fish Pictures
According to the Yomiuri On-line Newspaper Studio Ghibli have announced that their latest film Howl's Moving Castle will be released in Korea on December 24th and then in France, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. It will be released in about 50 countries. Regarding the US release, Studio Ghibli Producer Toshio Suzuki says that he has heard Howl is likely to recive a wider cinema release than Spirited Away did.
Posters on the Miyazaki Mailing List suggest that you don't get your hopes up too high until US details are confirmed.
Souce: Yomiuri On-line
Ever since the domain name BattleAngelAlita.com was registered in March 2000 and pointed to Foxmovies.com rumours of a live action Hollywood version of Battle Angel Alita (or Gunnm which translates as Gun Dream) started to fly. James Cameron (one of Hollywood's most sought-after directors thanks to films like Aliens Terminator, Terminator 2 and Titanic) was one of the names that was suggested to direct the movie and now according to Ain't it Cool News he has confirmed that it is indeed his next movie.
Apparently Gally/Alita will be a Computer Generated character, and the film will be shot in 3-D.
Souce: Ain\'t it Cool News
The folks over at Go Fish Pictures have just sent us the press release for Casshern, a live action movie inspired by the 1973 anime Robot Hunter Casshan.
Read More... | Souce: Go Fish Pictures
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that eleven animated films are eligible for the Best Animated Feature Oscar at the 2004 Academy Awards.
The BBC have published an article about all the features that are running. Anime News Network also have more details.
This year Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is the only anime eligible, the eleven films will compete for a maximum of three nominations, to be announced in January. One of the three nominations will then win the Oscar.
This is the forth year for the best animated feature Oscar, which was first awarded to Shrek in 2001. Then anime history was made with Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away winning in 2002, making it the first anime title to ever win an Academy award. Finding Nemo won in 2003.
Souce: BBC News
Having been busy working for and interviewing Production I.G. Staff, Justin Leach has put up a fascinating Production Journal about his work on Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. It has all sorts of interesting titbits such as Oshii's skill at drawing storyboards, how Justin's knowledge or weaponry has increased (pretty scary if you ask me) and things you never really consider like the amount of effort that goes to putting a small doll on a car rear view mirror!
Souce: VFX World
We've just heard from the folks at Go Fish Pictures some news that will please our Canadian readers. Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, will debut in Montreal on October 14th followed by Vancouver, Toronto and Edmonton on October 29th. Figures for the US box office have been positive, so it will be interesting to see if the pattern continues in Canada too.
Read More... | Souce: Go Fish Pictures
We've just heard from the folks at Go Fish Pictures, they've sent some interesting details about Ghost In the Shell 2. It's always good to hear that anime does well in the box office! ^_^
"Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence" continues breaking records for an anime film at the U.S. box office. Mamoru Oshii's long-awaited sequel surpassed last Monday, after only 11 days in theaters, the entire gross of the first "Ghost in the Shell" film as well as that of another cult movie, "Akira." Its gross now stands at a very impressive $576,350.
Read More... | Souce: Go Fish Pictures
The folks at Go Fish Pictures have informed us about the opening weekend for the US release of Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence, in three days it's grossed $312,568 and is the #1 movie in 22 of the 48 screens it's playing at. This is as always good news for Anime fans. ^_^
Read More... | Souce: Go Fish Pictures
Those lovely folks at Go Fish Pictures have just put the first 8 minutes of Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence on-line, it's available in Windows Media, Real and QuickTime formats. Take a peek at the footage here - http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2642793
The only trouble of course is that you just have to run out and watch the rest of the movie after seeing the first 8 minutes!
Read More... | Souce: Go Fish Pictures
Category > Anime
We've just been sent a very interesting press release for the Ghost In The Shell franchise, it's well known that the movie Ghost In the Shell 2: Innocence it will be hitting US cinema screens on September 17th and that Manga Entertainment and Bandai Entertainment are jointly releasing the DVDs for Ghost In The Shell Standalone Complex series. However what they also point out is that Standalone Complex will be aired on Cartoon Network's late-night Adult Swim from early November!
The press release also mentions that Dark Horse is republishing Shirow's Ghost in the Shell manga as Ghost in the Shell 2nd Edition, it features extra materials not published in previous US editions and will be printed in it's original Japanese size.
It also mentions the new PS2 game. So it looks like US anime fans will be able to get Ghost In the Shell in every single format they could want!
Read More... | Souce: Go Fish Pictures
We've just had details in from the folks at Dreamworks.
Mamoru Oshii the director of Ghost In the Shell 2: Innocence will be answering questions posted to the offical Ghost In the Shell 2 Site's forum. Sign up and Join this thread - http://www.ghost2.com/board/showthread.php?t=62.
Fans will already know that Oshii was behind the original Ghost in the Shell Movie, and the first two Mobile Police Patlabor Movies.
Read More... | Souce: Go Fish Pictures
We've just heard the following from the folks at Dreamworks and GoFish Pictures:
We are happy to report that writer/director Mamoru Oshii's long-awaited sequel GHOST IN THE SHELL 2: INNOCENCE will have its Canadian premiere this September in the Midnight Madness section of the
29th Toronto International Film Festival (www.bell.ca/filmfest).
Read More... | Souce: GoFish Pictures