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Gurren Lagann Movie 2 Teaser Released

Posted on: January 8, 2009
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The official Gurren Lagann movie homepage now hosts a 26 second teaser trailer for the second and concluding Gurren Lagann movie. The streaming trailer is DRM encoded for compatibility with Windows Media Player only, but is not territory restricted. The film is scheduled for Japanese theatrical release on April 25th. Source: Moon Phase

FUNimation Cuts More Staff

Posted on: January 8, 2009
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Anime News Network has confirmed that FUNimation laid off at least two employees, including chief operating officer, Brian Burke, yesterday. According to an official company statement, this week’s terminations conclude FUNimation’s process of corporate re-structuring in response to “the current economic climate.” FUNimation cut about 10% of its staff in July 2007. According to FUNimation, the [...]

Osamu Ichikawa Dead at 72

Posted on: January 8, 2009
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Veteran anime voice actor Osamu Ichikawa passed away due to a heart attack in his Tokyo home on January 2. He was 72. Ichikawa played the title role of Jetter in the 1965 anime television series Mirai Kara Shonen Super Jetter before cementing his reputation for playing handsome villains including General Garuda in Combattler V [...]

Cosplay Across Japan

Posted on: January 8, 2009
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Pop Japan Travel is now accepting reservations for participation in its Cosplay Across Japan Tour, scheduled for March 17 to 24. The guided tour will begin in Osaka, featuring attendance to the Nippon-Bashi Cosplay Matsuri, the world’s biggest cosplay festival, then move to Kyoto and the Kyoto International Manga Museum before moving to Tokyo for [...]

Viz Partners With Zazzle for J-Pop Fashions

Posted on: January 8, 2009
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Viz has launched a partnership with on-demand production retailer Zazzle to offer a line of original J-Pop, manga and anime-inspired apparel, stationery, and other items. The initial product offerings are the first phase of a projected product rollout that will concentrate on “shoujo-focused” fashion designs and items that will become available later this year. Most [...]

Centennial High School Otaku Fest

Posted on: January 8, 2009
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The Centennial High School anime club, based in Ellicott City, Maryland, will host the CHS Otaku Fest on April 25, from 9:30 AM until 9:30 PM. The public event will include screenings, panels and workshops, merchandise dealers, a masquerade and cosplay, a video game room, and other events.

Newspaper Profiles Anime Orchestra Founder

Posted on: January 8, 2009
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Colorado’s Boulder Weekly independent newspaper has published a profile of Katie Vedder, the founder of the Symphonic Anime Orchestra that exclusively plays music from anime and Japanese video games. Article provided by Dylan Otto Krider

Viz to Distribute I”s Anime

Posted on: January 7, 2009
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Reportedly Viz Media will release a 2 disc DVD set on March 24th containing the 2002 I”s and 2005 I”s Pure OVA series, both based on the I”s romance manga by Masakazu Katsura. Viz Media has already released the entire 15 volume manga series in English. Source: Mania

Hayate no Gotoku OVA Announced

Posted on: January 7, 2009
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Geneon Entertainment has scheduled a March 6 Japanese release of a Hayate no Gotoku OVA (Hayate the Combat Butler). The OVA will be released in regular and limited edition DVD and Blu-ray formats. The first Hayate no Gotoku anime television series aired in 2007. A second TV series is in development now. In July 2008, [...]

Ponyo English Dub Review

Posted on: January 7, 2009
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Ain’t it Cool News has published an early, positive review of Disney’s English dub of director Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea. The official English language release is tentatively scheduled for this summer. Please note that the review contains some adult language.

Four Gonzo Titles Added to Crunchyroll

Posted on: January 7, 2009
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Japanese anime production studio Gonzo has announced that its Chrno Crusade, Kaleido Star, Last Exile, and Peacemaker Kurogane anime television series are now available for free streaming and digital purchase through Crunchyroll.

Ask John: What’s John’s Opinion of Soul Eater?

Posted on: January 7, 2009
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Question: what is your opinion of Soul Eater? Is that series over at 51 episodes? Answer: Soul Eater is a tough call. The series is produced by Bones. Bones did conclude the Fullmetal Alchemist television series in 51 episodes despite the original manga series continuing. Likewise, the Soul Eater manga series is still ongoing, and [...]

Examurai Sengoku Prologue Video Available

Posted on: January 6, 2009
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The official Japanese Examurai website now hosts a streaming 12 minute long prologue video for the sci-fi/fantasy anime inspired by real life Japanese pop group EXILE. The Examurai Sengoku anime production depicts the members of the EXILE group as futuristic samurai that are transported back in time to Japan’s sengoku (warring states) period. The [...]

Kodomo no Jikan Nigakki Trailer Released

Posted on: January 6, 2009
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Japanese multimedia site Biglobe now hosts a 4:43 streaming trailer for the Kodomo no Jikan Nigakki OVA series. (Here’s a direct link for viewers not registered on the Biglobe site.) The trailer begins with an introduction from voice actresses Eri Kitamura, Kei Shindou, and Mai Kadowaki. Animation footage from the upcoming OVA begins at 3:15 [...]

Genji Trailer Available

Posted on: January 6, 2009
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The Fuji TV network’s web page for the upcoming Monogatari Sennenki Genji television series now hosts a streaming 14 second trailer. The series is scheduled to premiere at 12:45 AM on the 16th. Source: Moon Phase

Third Vocaloid Revealed

Posted on: January 6, 2009
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Crypton Future Media has officially revealed its third Vocaloid 2 character/software program. Megurine Luka will digitally synthesize the voice of voice actress Asakawa Yuu (Sakaki in Azumanga Daioh, Priss in Bubblegum Crisis 2040) to sing in Japanese and English. The Vocaloid 2 CV03 Megurine Luka program will go on sale in Japan on the [...]

Stats on Japanese Seiyu Revealed

Posted on: January 6, 2009
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A Japanese language interview with Shomu Shirogane, president of the Winner Entertainment voice-acting management agency and a seiyu (voice actor) himself, reveals that Japan is presently home to about 1,600 working voice actors and 80,000 potential seiyu (people either applying for voice actor work, or taking voice acting training). Among Japan’s 1,600 professional voice actors, [...]

Ask John Editorial: What Anime Features Haven’t Been Licensed?

Posted on: January 6, 2009
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Discotek’s recent announcement of plans to re-release the 1986 Fist of the North Star movie in America caused me to ponder which other significant feature length anime films aren’t officially available in America but should be. Answer: Feature length anime productions, whether theatrical movies or OVAs, are frequently a desirable acquisition for domestic licensors because single features [...]

Yume wo Kanaeru Zo TV Anime to Premier This Month

Posted on: January 5, 2009
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An anime TV series adaptation of Keiya Mizuno’s best selling 2007 novel Yume wo Kanaeru Zo (The Dream-Granting Elephant) will premier as part of the Kimiha Break variety news program. Tsuyoshi Kusanagi of veteran pop band SMAP will provide the voice of series protagonist Fumio Fumiyama, a salaryman who works to attain success with a [...]

Ponyo to Hit America This Summer?

Posted on: January 5, 2009
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Japanese financial news organization Nikkei.net reports that Studio Ghibli’s 2008 film Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea will open in North American theatrical release this summer. At least one test screening of Disney’s English dub was held in Southern California last november. Ponyo was Japan’s highest grossing movie of 2008, earning 15.4 billion yen [...]

IMAGI’s Gatchaman Movie in Trouble?

Posted on: January 5, 2009
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Financial auditing firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu has reported that Hong Kong based animated film production studio IMAGI Animation Studios had the equivilant of $11.5 million in capital as of September 30, 2008. But IMAGI itself anticipates needing $66 million to complete its current films in production and pay operating expenses through June 2010. IMAGI [...]

Live Action Kamui Site Opened

Posted on: January 5, 2009
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The official website for director Yoichi Sai’s live action Kamui Gaiden motion picture is now open. The film is an adaptation of Sanpei Shirato’s 1965 Kamui Gaiden manga series. The movie stars Kenichi Matsuyama (”L” in the live action Death Note movies). Source: Twitch

We Love Akiba-Pop!

Posted on: January 5, 2009
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Go ahead and call me a sissy, but lately I just can’t get enough of MOSAIC.WAV’s song “We Love Akiba-Pop!!” A short version of the song, synched to a cute, fan created Idolm@ster sprite MAD is up on YouTube. The full length version of the song is even better (or even worse, depending on your [...]

Ask Johh: What Are the Kabuki Sounds in Anime?

Posted on: January 5, 2009
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Question: Okay, so I am watching Tenchi Muyo, and occasionally there is this sound in the background, like some guy going “Ooowoooh!” and then some weird bonk that sounds like a block of wood getting hit. What the heck is it supposed to mean? Answer: The sound you’re referring to comes from traditional Japanese kabuki theater. The “thump” [...]

FUNimation Announces Evangelion 1.0 & Soul Eater

Posted on: January 2, 2009
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FUNimation has announced its acquisition of broadcast, digital, mobile and merchandise rights to the 2008 Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone motion picture from Japanese broadcasting company NTV. Specifically, the version of the movie that FUNimation will release in America later this year is the revised Evangelion: 1.01 You Are (Not) Alone edit from 2008 [...]

Crunchyroll Announces New Titles

Posted on: January 2, 2009
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Crunchyroll’s lineup list of officially licensed digital distribution programming has revealed a number of previously unannounced anime titles. Episodes of the 2008 Natsume Yujin Cho television series will premiere on Crunchyroll today. Episodes of the series’ upcoming sequel, Zoku Natsume Yujin Cho, will premiere on Crunchyroll within an hour of their Japanese television broadcast. Episodes of the [...]

Discotek Acquires 1986 Hokuto no Ken Movie

Posted on: January 2, 2009
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Discotek has announced plans for a May release of the 1986 Fist of the North Star (Hokuto no Ken) anime motion picture. The release will be America’s first ever bilingual release of the film. This is certainly a surprise after Discotek canceled its plans to release the Lupin III: Golden Legend of Babylon movie back [...]

Live Action Kimi ni Todoke Drama Revealed?

Posted on: January 2, 2009
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The Rakuten online store’s listing for Karuho Shiina’s shoujo manga series Kimi ni Todoke includes a small image caption reporting that a live action television drama adaptation of the story will premiere in April. The 2005 and ongoing Kimi ni Todoke manga won the prestigious Kodansha Manga Award for best shoujo manga in 2008. The [...]

Lucky Star Museum in Development

Posted on: January 2, 2009
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Following Lucky Star creator Yoshimizu Kagami’s move out of his Satte City home last May, the the Satte City Commerce and Industry Association has secured permission and a six month lease on the home with plans to turn the three-story home into a faithful recreation of Konata Izumi’s home. Plans call for the furnishing of [...]

Ask John: What Can Fans Look Forward to This Year?

Posted on: January 2, 2009
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Question: What do we have to look forward to next year? Answer: Working with the limited information known about the new year, it’s difficult to make very many assertive statements because there’s not enough concrete information to base predictions upon. However, some trends already seem evident. The most prominent apparent trend in Japan seems to be that early [...]

FUNimation Acquires Samurai Champloo

Posted on: December 31, 2008
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FUNimation has wrapped up its 2008 “New Show A-Go-Go!!” acquisition announcement with word that Samurai Champloo will be re-released as a DVD boxed set in 2009. Geneon initially released the series in America in 2005. Like FUNimation’s acquisition of distribution rights to Gungrave, the acquisition of Samurai Champloo is part of FUNimation’s deal to [...]

Decodeco Town Franchise Launched With Web Anime

Posted on: December 31, 2008
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Game developer Hudson Soft (Bomberman, Kita e) and animation studio Fanworks (Hanoka) have formally launched their Decodeco Town multimedia franchise with a website, online anime, online manga, a blog, cel phone ringtones, and more. The series about living matryoshka or Babushka Russian nested dolls is targeted at Japanese women in their 20s and 30s. Source: Anime [...]

Chocolate Underground Movie Trailer Released

Posted on: December 31, 2008
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The official homepage of the Chocolate Underground web anime series from earlier this year now hosts a streaming trailer for next year’s Chocolate Underground movie. The feature film, scheduled to open on January 31, will add 20 minutes of new animation to the existing footage. Source: Anime News Network

Ask John: What Were the Best Anime of 2008?

Posted on: December 31, 2008
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Question: What have the best anime of the year been? What were the worst anime of the year? Answer: The total number of TV and web anime productions this year has been up slightly from 2007, but down from the record number of new titles debuted in 2006. But 2008 may be the strongest year of new TV [...]