Anime News Service - August 9th-14th Anime News
8-14-06 (7:35PM EDT)---- Tokyo Majin Gakuen Updates
According to an August 14th update to co-creator Imai Shuhou's official website, Tokyo Majin Gakuen's animation will be produced by AIC. Marvelous Entertaiment will co-produce. 8-14-06 (7:15PM EDT)---- GR -Giant Robo- Site Launches
The official website for GR -Giant Robo- is now online, hosting a flash teaser for the coming work due in 2007.8-14-06 (6:57PM EDT)---- Voice Actor Kouji Tatani Dies
Known as the voice of Revolver Ocelot in Metal Gear Solid and Leon in the Dead Or Alive game series, seiyuu Kouji Tatani
died of the acute cardiac insufficiency (heart failure) on February 6th of this year. He was 57 years old.
The funeral was attended by his family and close relatives only. The bereaved family's intention was not to make his passing public for some time. After about one month had gone by rumors began to circulate online and eventually a confirmation came. He played main supporting roles in many Gundam works, Fist of the Nothstar and Dragonball Z.
8-14-06 (5:01PM EDT)---- New Manga Magazines
Media Works has announced their new manga anthology called Sylph. The English meaning of the word is "Energy of the girl and the atmosphere" and the magazine aims to embody that spirit. Release is set for this winter. Toranoana reports Futabasha has announced a new spinoff of their Comic High Magazine. Featuring manga which include heroines full of individuality Comic Junior High was unveiled at the company's corporate booth at Comike this weekend and the first issue went on sale August 14th.
8-14-06 (5:01PM EDT)---- Denno Coil Website
Tokuma Shoten has gone live with an official website for Madhouse and Director Mitsuo Iso's Denno Coil anime.
8-14-06 (3:50PM EDT)---- Top Japanese Movies - 1st Half 2006
Fujisankei Business-i quotes some research by a Shibuya based movie marketing research firm that has looked at the top 10 grossing films in Japanese theaters for the first 6 months of 2006. Harry Potter And The Goblett Of Fire ranked in first drawing 11.5 billion Yen. The predominately Hollywood dominated list had Japanese live action films in 4th and 6th place and Anime entries in 8th and 10th place. Doraemon Nobita's Dinosaur which opened in March ranked 8th with 3.2 billion Yen in boxoffice returns, Detective Conan Movie 10 - "The Private Eyes' Requiem"follwed in 10th spot amassing 3.0 billion Yen in returns.
8-14-06 (3:21PM EDT)---- Broadway Nakano Joins Otaku Hot Spots
Yomiuri Shimbun has a writeup on the male oriented otaku hotspot of Akihabara and the female oriented Otome Road in Ikebukuro. Nakano's "Broadway Nakano" also known as the "Otaku Building" has in recent years collected many specialty magazine and figure shops. Several of the shops were originally based in Akihabara but had since shut down those operations, opting for a move to Nakano. This has gotten the landmark the name of "The Second Akihabara". 8-14-06 (3:06PM EDT)---- Asian Kung Fu Generation On Tekkon Movie
Japanese rock band Asian Kung Fu Generation will perform the theme to the animated feature film Tekkon Kinkreet. The opening in Japan is December 23rd. Lead vocalist Masafumi Goto has commented this is the group's first time to tackle a movie theme song. The single will release in autumn, 2006. 8-14-06 (2:12PM EDT)---- Haruhi Suzumiya Garage Kit Sells High
Livedoor News mentions a completed and assembled Suzumiya Haruhi garage kit that originally retailed at 15,000 Yen has sold for 340,000 Yen on Yahoo Auctions earlier in the summer.
8-14-06 (1:56PM EDT)---- Sazae-san Shop Opens
Fuji Television has created a special "Sazae-san's Shop" in commemoration of the 37th year of broadcasting the animation. Therein one can find around 150 unique branded items. Specially-made sweets that use Sazae-san as a motif are offered in the demonstration sales corner. The shop can be seen at the Fuji TV building at Daiba. Mapple has some images and other details from the launch on July 15th.
8-14-06 (11:35AM EDT)---- 2005 Anime Market Worth 233.9 Billion Yen
Japanese group The Media Development Research Institute has determined the country's animation market in 2005 reached it's highest value ever at 233.9 billion Yen. The figure came out in their report "Analysis Project Of The Animation Market". 2004 saw a 225.7 billion Yen market size according to their investigation. The years between 1995 and 2000 saw a growth from only 150 billion Yen to 160 billion Yen. After that however the scale began go up dramatically.
8-14-06 (12:09AM EDT)---- Genius Party Site & Details
Studio4C has launched the official website for it's coming Genius Party anthology. The flash based site includes some teaser stills and backgrounds on creators and works. Standing out are some shakeups in projects and attached Directors. Past reports have listed 10 featuretes and directors. As of the latest update the film will now consist of 12 shorts by 11 of Japan's top animators and one from France. Additionally, "Nayorani" by Mahiro Maeda is no longer mentioned to be included. Projects and directors are as follows: "Dimension Bomb" by Koji Morimoto,
"Twilight World" by Shinichiro Watanabe, "Nayorani" by Mahiro Maeda, "Space-Time Wars" by Shoji Kawamori, "Dream Machine" by Masaaki Yuasa, "Genius Party" by Atsuko Fukushima, "Moondrive" by Kazuto Nakazawa, "Touni" by Tadashi Hiramatsu, "Limitcycle" by Hideki Futamura, "Wanwa the Puppy" (previously to be directed by Shinosuke Harada) by Shinya Ohira, "Tojin Kit" by Tatsuyuki Tanaka, "Doorbell" by Yuji Fukuyama and "Le Manchot Melomane" by Nicolas De Crecy. genius-party.jp
8-13-06 (10:07PM EDT)---- 90% Of Animation On Chinese TV Is Anime
TV Tokyo has a brief news flash on the Chinese Government's move to strip foreign animation from primetime television. According to their analysis, 90% of the animation content on Chinese TV is Japanese in origin.8-13-06 (8:32PM EDT)---- Gunbuster Movie Premiere
The Tokyo Anime Center will host the world premiere of Gainax's Top O Nare Movie on October 1. The screening will occur in the facility's Akiba 3D Theater. Nationwide distribution will follow. The official title is "Top Wo Narae 2! & Top Wo Narae! Gattai Gekijouban" (united theater version).
8-13-06 (8:22PM EDT)---- Victorian Romance Emma Season 2
Based on the seinen manga serialized in manga magazine Comic Beam, Victorian Romance Emma will get a second season. Tsuneo Kobayashi contiues in the role of Director, Mamiko Ikeda will handle series composition. 8-13-06 (8:20PM EDT)---- Hidamari Sketch TV Site
TBS has created an offical website for it's coming Hidamari Sketch TV anime at: www.tbs.co.jp/anime/hidamari/. According to info out of Comike 70 Yoshiaki Ito (Arcade Gamer Fubuki) will do chara designs.8-13-06 (8:15PM EDT)---- Galaxy Railways II
Ginga Tetsudo Monogatari II will broadcast from this autumn on CBC-TBS TV networks. Galaxy Railways was Leiji Matsumoto's 50th Anniversary project (since his first publication "Adventures" in 1953). www.gintetsu.com
8-13-06 (7:38PM EDT)---- China Bans Foreign Animation From Airwaves
According to Xinhua:
From Sept. 1, Chinese children will be able to watch domestic cartoon programs during 5 p.m. to 8p.m. every day, according to a regulation by China's TV watchdog.
The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) has decided to ban all foreign cartoons during the "golden hours", reported the Beijing News on Sunday.
No foreign cartoons or programs of introducing foreign cartoons can be shown during the period on all domestic cartoon channels and children channels, the regulation says.
Only after 8 p.m. can foreign cartoons appear on TV, it requires.
The regulation has been issued to local TV stations but the administration has not made it public, according to the newspaper.
Cartoon programs co-produced by domestic and foreign producers will have to get approval from SARFT to show during 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. from Sept. 1.
The first foreign cartoon introduced to China was a Japanese cartoon called "Astro Boy" series in 1981. Since then, a large quantity of foreign cartoons crammed into China.
In 2000, a regulation by the SARFT required local TV stations get approval from the administration and set quotas for imported cartoons to show on TV. By that time, China's cartoon programs had nearly been monopolized by Japanese cartoons.
8-13-06 (7:38PM EDT)---- No Anglosphere Licenses For Gedo Senki Yet
ANS has learned from Studio Ghibli that the Goro Miyazaki directed feature Gedo Senki: Tales From Earthsea has yet to be licensed for the USA, Canada, UK or Australian markets.
8-13-06 (7:29PM EDT)---- Misc. Interviews
- Anime World Order talks to the Lodoss/X/Escaflowne chara
designer in their Aug. 10 update. Thanks to Daniel Zelter for the news.
- The Honolulu Star Bulletin has an interview School Rumble mangaka Jin Kobayashi.8-12-06 (12:20PM EDT)---- Tokyo Majin Gakuen To Be Animated
Based on the popular SHOUT! DESIGNWORKS / Asimk Ace game series which debuted on the PS1 in 1998, "Tokyo Majin Gakuen Tsurugi Kaze Chou" will be adapted to an animation series in Japan this winter. The news comes out of Amuze Soft Entertainment's booth at the ongoing Comike 70 this weekend. The story providing the basis of the adaptation is said to be the original game. The delivery method / format is undetermined and may screen online.
Charater Design is said to be greatly changed from the games. Staff includes: original story by Imai Shuhou (Youto Chinkonka - Tokyo Requiem), Director Ishidaira Shinji (Ichi The Killer Animated, Tenbatsu Angel Rabbie), Series Composition and Script by Saizo Nemoto (Getbackers), Character Designs by Nakai Jun (Samurai Champloo), Music by Takayuki Negishi (Card Captor Sakura).
8-11-06 (3:10PM EDT)---- AIR Blu-Ray Demonstration
Watch Impress talks more about aforementioned Air Blu-Ray demonstration at the Sony Building in Ginza. If you're in Tokyo you can drop in and see it through August 31st. The test clip being shown is around 10 minutes in length.
8-11-06 (2:42PM EDT)---- Bartender Site
The official website for the coming Bartender TV series is now live at www.bartender-tv.com.8-11-06 (2:26PM EDT)---- Souten No Ken
The cover of the latest Comic Bunch Magazine confirms long standing rumors that Fist Of The North Star prequel Souten no Ken (Fist of the Blue Sky) will be adapted to animation. The format is currently unannounced. Source: Anime Nation News8-11-06 (2:16PM EDT)---- Armored Core Anime Announced
Compared to Votoms and Front Mission since the beginning of the popular video game series, the new OVA "ARMORED CORE -FORT TOWER SONG-" has been revealed with a official website opening at www.aniplex.co.jp/AC/. Animation production is said to be by VIEWWORKS of Demonbane fame. A companion manga series will follow. Source: Anime Nation News
8-11-06 (2:08PM EDT)---- Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha 3rd TV Series
Rumors of Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha getting an OVA have recently been dispelled and replaced with news of a possible 3rd TV series called "Striker S" to begin in 2007. 8-11-06 (1:48PM EDT)---- J-Anime Paper Launches
Maybe some of you have noticed it floating it around at anime conventions across the USA this summer. J-Anime, which launched in May of this year, is a monthly, free english-language newspaper covering anime, manga, videos games, characters, cosplay and Japanese traditions. News contents are entirely developed in Japan and then final version is printed off in California. The publication is the brainchild of Mr. Kyoichi Ichimura, president of the company OEANN, Inc. Finacially, the paper is ad supported, targetting the American market and has been circulating around major anime conventions this summer. Additionally, several shop owners and other vendors attending these events have agreed to carry the magazine in their establishments. Readers can submit their own content and classified ads, J-Anime is also looking for further shops and individuals refered to as their "Street Team Volunteers" to distribute and promote. Email distribution@janime.jp for details.
8-11-06 (12:17PM EDT)---- AnimeNEXT Announces 2007 Dates
AnimeNEXT, the New York City area anime convention is moving the dates
for its annual event for 2007. After receiving numerous requests from
our attendees to move the convention off Father's Day weekend, AnimeNEXT
has finally made the move to July. AnimeNEXT 2007 will still be held at
the Meadowlands Expo Center and Holiday Inn Secaucus, just minutes from
New York City, but will be held on July 6-8, 2007.
8-11-06 (12:08PM EDT)---- 009-1 Anime Details
A press conference for the new Ishimori Entertainment TV series animation 009-1 was held in Tokyo August 9th. It begins running on TBS and BS-i from October, 2006. Based on the original manga of the late Shotaro Ishinomori, in the story, the cold war continues for 140 years, the main character is a female secret intelligence officer "MyIene Hofmann" that belongs to the western block. This is Ishimori Entertainment's first anime project with Aniplex and TBS teaming on production.
The premiere is October 5th at 2:00, thereafter broadcast will occur on Thursdays weekly at 1:25.
Staff includes Director, Character Designer, and total art supervisor Naoyuki Konno, Music by Iwasaki Taku,
Music Production by Anipreccs, Animation Production by Ishimori Entertainment, Animation Production Cooperation by Ishimori Professional ism Studio, Production Cooperation courtesy Aniplex, C.Itoh & Co. Ltd., and XeNN. Production by Project 009-1 TBS.
MyIene Hofmann's voice is provided by Yumiko Shaku.
www.tbs.co.jp/anime/009-1
8-11-06 (11:19AM EDT)---- Negative Advance Reviews For AIR On Blu-Ray
Pending the November 1st release from Pony Canyon, some Japanese fans have gotten an advance peek at some of the test / demo versions of AIR TV on the Blu-Ray HD disc format. There have been some negative reviews, Japanese blog lolipuni took a couple of screen shots, mentions what he saw was unpleasant, looked liked SD (standard defintion) and hopes the final release will have a better visual quality. Likewise, Hddvddegogo saw a test screening in Ginza and says to compare the video against an advance BD version of Gonzo's Gin-iro no kami no Agito that he's seen would be "impolite". 8-11-06 (10:00AM EDT)---- Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo Goes Viral
Quietly released to a single Tokyo theater on July 15th with a virtually non-existant commercial advertisement campaign, word of mouth praise surrounding Studio Madhouse's new animated feature Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo is building at a pretty high rate. And the phenomenon of such hype alone is exceptional for an anime of this type, garnering it's own share of press coverage in Japan recently. Excite Bit reports blog and net channels have been buzzing on the animated film. The amount of men being drawn in is reported as unusual (an observed 90% of attendees during some showings). Moreover, Excite Bit says to see so many men crying bitterly in a movie theater is very unusual.
Cinema Today confirms word of mouth and the net have played a large role in promotions, with suggestions being made to friends and user review postings to sites like Yahoo Movie. Tickets run 1800 Yen.
Reviews have been out of this world and out of the countless TV series, OAV's and Movies they have produced over the years, many (including Kadokawa Shoten CEO Tsuguhiko Kadokawa) have even called it Madhouse's best work ever. Mamoru Hosoda's adaptation of Yasutaka Tsutsui's 1972 juvenile sci-fi novel has increasingly been drawing young and old alike. Zak Zak has an article seconding observations of middle aged men shedding tears at the screenings. The Length of lines to the lone Shinjuku Ward theater hosting showings grows by the day. It's said Japanese businessmen in their 40's and 50's are frequently spotted in the lines, popping out of work for a peek.
An Osaka opening in Umeda is being planned. The official website is www.kadokawa.co.jp/tokikake/.
8-11-06 (9:41AM EDT)---- Mai Otome Zwei OAV Release
The 1st volume of Sunrise's Mai Otome Zwei OVA has been given a November, 24th 2006 release. Both a collectors (7,140 yen) and regular version (5,250 yen will be sold. The OVA has a 30 minute running time, Dolby Digital (5.1ch stereo), 16:9 video aspect ratio. The planned 4 volume work will release bimonthly via Bandai Visual. www.my-zhime.net 8-11-06 (9:22AM EDT)---- Comike Cosplay Info
For those cosplaying at this weekend's Comike 70 event, you can find some guidelines and information at the link (Japanese language only). 8-11-06 (9:02AM EDT)---- Sumomo TV Site
The official website for Sumomo has gone online at http://www.tv-sumomo.com/.8-11-06 (9:02AM EDT)---- Patrick Macias Looks At Shibuya Girl Tribes
Metropolis posted an article which as a teaser, explores the kinds of trends the Tokyoscope author will be including in
a forthcoming book, Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno. An intriguing article. Thanks to Daniel Zelter for 8-11-06 (8:10AM EDT)---- Animax Expands In Hong Kong
According to Indian Television:
Animax has expanded its presence on major cable platform, Cable TC to make Animax more accessible to Hong Kong viewers as part of the channel's ongoing efforts to reach its target youth audience. Starting 10 August, Animax moves to the basic tier on Cable TV, increasing its target demographic reach.
The channel will be moving from an a la carte basis to the basic tier on Cable TV to allow all Cable TV viewers full access to Animax offerings, and increase the accessibility for Animax's target demographic of youths and young adults to view the channel's programmes.
Animax on Cable TV's basic tier will continue to provide a customised feed, offering both Cantonese dubbing and the original Japanese language for selected programmes.
Hong Kong viewers can expect to see more anime programmes in the coming months such as Paradise Kiss, Blood+ and Girl From Hell, and a host of anime-inspired activities that encompass fashion and music in the pipeline.
8-10-06 (2:13PM EDT)---- Bandai Museum Closes
After only being open for 3 years, major Japanese toymaker Bandai will close it's Bandai Museum located in Chiba Prefecture, Matsudo City at the end of August, 2006. An accumulated debt of the museum has been revealed as 1.8 billion Yen.
Revenue and expenditure deterioration were some of the reasons given for the closing. In the past the museum exhibited the full scale Gundam bust of about 5.6 meters in height. Many of the exhibits will transfer to a Bandai Toy Museum scheduled to open next year in Tochigi Prefecture, Mibu-cho. Many of the busts will goto a production center in Shizuoka City. The Bandai Museum is in a 9 story building (1 basement floor) with the museum proper located between floors 5 through 8. The entrance to the museum is located on the third floor on the same level with the Matsudo station of the Joban Line. The exhibit sections of the museum consists of two parts, Character World and Gundam Museum; while the remaining areas of floors 5 through 8 are for shops, event space, and visitor amenities. Research: Wikipedia | Official Website: www.bandai-museum.jp
8-10-06 (1:15PM EDT)---- Japan's Digital Contents Market Worth 2.5 Trillion Yen
Japan's digital contents industry in 2005 has been appraised at 2,527,500,000,000 Yen (an 11.5% increase over 2004) according to new information published in a Digital Contents Association whitepaper released on August 11th.
The report was prepared under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry commercial affairs information policy bureau. Covered areas include movie, broadcasting, animation, manga, video games, music, e-publishing and internet services.
8-10-06 (7:53AM EDT)---- Imagica Imageworks Site
Anime production firm Imagica has just launched a new website for it's Imagica Imagworks studio at www.imagica-imageworks.jp.8-10-06 (7:49AM EDT)---- Voice Actor Hirotaka Suzuoki Dies
Most well known to anime fans as the voice of Noa Bright (commander of the White Base warshship) in Mobile Suit Gundam, Japanese seiyuu Hirotaka Suzuoki has died in Japan on August 6th of Lung Cancer, he was 56 years old. The voice actor enjoyed a long relationship with the frasnchise a Noa Bright is the only original Mobile Suit Gundam character who appears throughout sequels Zeta Gundam, Double Zeta and survives the events of Char's Counterattack. He is also one of the few reoccurring characters to have a major role in nearly every single installment of the Super Robot Wars video game series. Other noteable roles in anime include Tenshin-han in Dragon Ball, Lynn Kaifun in Macross, Tatewaki Kuno in Ranma 1/2 and Hajime Saitou in Rurouni Kenshin. You can view his official profile at his production company KENPRODUCTION here.
8-9-06 (5:06PM EDT)---- Hideaki Anno Quote
"The cover of the 10th anniversary issue was Evangelion, the cover of 1st issue and on the occasion of the 20th anniversary is Gundam-- thus it is logical that the cover of the 30th will again be Evangelion. You better reserve it!"
Newtype Magazine May 2005 (Japanese Edition) 8-9-06 (4:20PM EDT)---- 1.5 Billion Yen Projected For Death Note TV DVD Sales
On August 8th NTT Docomo and and Nippon Television Network held a joint news conference announcing a 10 billion Yen partnership deal to deliver the forthcoming DEATH NOTE anime TV series on i-mode phones. The vice-chief of the contents business bureau of Nippon Television Toru Horikoshi said they have a DVD sales target of 1.3 billion Yen inside Japan. 200 million Yen are expected to be had through DVD sales in foreign countries. The TV animation begins broadcast on October 3rd via the network. Voice cast is still undecided at this point. The story is based on the 20 million Shueisha / Shonen Jump best seller by Tsugumi Ooba and Takeshi Obata. Studio Madhouse will produce the animation directed by Araki Tetsuro (Galaxy Angel, Otogi-Jushi Akazukin). Script by Toshiki Inoue, Character Designs by Masaru Kitao, Art Direction by Mio Ishiki, Sound Direction by Tomoaki Yamada (Black Jack), Color Scheme by Masaru Hashimoto. One of the first image stills (seen here) of Madhouse's animation rendition for Death Note was also released this week.
8-9-06 (3:33PM EDT)---- Seiyuu Take Over Yurikamome For Comike 70
The Yurikamome Train Line connects Tokyo's metro area with the Daiba waterfront area, home to the Big Sight convention and events hall. It's been announced the "voice guide" of public announcements sent over the train's speakers will provided by popular anime seiyuu during 'Comic Market 70' which will be held at Tokyo Big Sight this weekend (August 11-13).
8-9-06 (3:22PM EDT)---- Green Bunny Shuts Down Site
The company responsible for such hentai anime hits as Kite and Mezzo Forte has officially closed down their official website. www.green-bunny.com updated sometime in July with the following message: "This site was closed at the end of July 2006.
I apologize sincerely for any trouble or inconvenience to anyone.
We wish to deeply express our gratitude to the support and patronage gotten until today.
I pray for health and development of everybody. Thank you indeed." The state of the actual company remains unknown.
8-9-06 (3:03PM EDT)---- Nodame Cantible Anime
According to Kiss Magazine Nodame Cantible will become an animated TV series to be broadast as part of Fuji TV's Noitama block in January, 2007. Honey and Clover's Kenichi Kasai will direct. Series Compostion by Tomoko Konparu (School Rumble). Production will be by J.C.STAFF. Additionally, Kiss mentions detailed information will come out in Kiss18 (on sale 9/10.
8-9-06 (2:01PM EDT)---- Maid Bikini
Maybe a bit late in the warm season for the Northern Hemisphere, Mainichi has images of model Fukunaga China sporting a housemaid style bikini.8-9-06 (1:12PM EDT)---- Gedo Senki Holds Top Position At Japanese BO
Japanese Boxoffice results for the weekend of Aug 5-6. Courtesy Kogyo Tsushinsha:
1. Tales From Earthsea
2. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN:DEAD MAN'S CHEST
3.
Sinking Of Japan
4. Masked Rider Kabuto/Go Go Sentai Boukenger
5. 2006 Poket Monster Advanced Generation
6. 2006 Naruto
7. MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE III
8. OVER THE HEDGE
9. Free And Easy 17
10. Brave Story.
8-9-06 (12:08PM EDT)---- Nikkei Characters Suspends Publication
Known for quite a few big scoops over the years, Nikkei Business Publication's anime, manga and video game contents character focused magazine Nikkei Characters will suspend publication indefinetly from the August edition. The news was posted to the official website on August 7th. Bimonthly publication has continued since the first issue in May, 2004. The mangazine becomes the latest adult (not porn) oriented animation magazine to suffer at an apparant imploding market phenomena for such mags in Japan. Publishing houses have seen their readers abandoning print circulars for online news and content which is most the time free and up the second current. Other recent victims include Animation RE which suspended publication in June, and Otaku Elite, whose publisher went bankrupt. http://chara.nikkeibp.co.jp/chara/index.html
8-9-06 (10:42AM EDT)---- Nodame Cantabile Drama
Kiss Magazine No.16, due to go on sale in Japan on August 10th will confirm (in addition to an anime) a TV drama is being planned and will begin running on Fuji Television Network from October 16th, 2006. Juri Ueno, Hiroshi Tamaki, Eita and Keisuke Koide will star.8-9-06 (10:35AM EDT)---- D-Gray Man TV Cast And Broadcast Dates
TV Tokyo has launched it's official website for the forthcoming D-Gray Man TV series at www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/dgrayman. The premiere is Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006 at 18:00. Shonen Jump No. 38 has mentioned some of the cast details: Allen: Sanae Kobayashi, Lenalee: Shizuka Ito, Yu Kanda: Sakurai Takahiro, The Earl of Millennium: Takiguchi Junpei, Komui: Konishi Katsuyuki, Reever: Okiayu Ryotaro, Cross Touchi Hiroki. 8-9-06 (9:38AM EDT)---- Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro Cast Reunite For Special
The Mainichi Shimbun has an English language article on voice actors for the comedy horror anime "Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro" who reunited on Tuesday as they participated in a recording session for a special radio program titled "Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro All Night Nippon," to be broadcast in line with the release of three boxed DVD sets of the anime.
On the special program, the "seven mysteries of Kirato" is explained, and the story that debuted in "Shonen Magazine" in 1965 is turned into a radio drama. The show will be broadcast on Nippon Broadcasting System radio on Aug. 12 from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m.
8-9-06 (8:21AM EDT)---- Yunagi No Machi Sakura No Kuni Movie
Fumiyo Kouno's manga Yunagi No Machi Sakura No Kuni (Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms) has been announced to be adapted to live action starring Tanaka Rena in the lead role. The story which won critical praise in the press and a Tezuka Cultural manga prize for best new story in 2005, draws on the tragedy of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima as told from a new perspective. Director Kiyoshi Sasabe (Katenkaru,
Yokkakan no kiseki,
Hanochi,
Chirusoku no natsu,
Hi wa mata noboru) says it should be ready for release in Japan by summer 2007. Translated versions of the original comic have already been published in South Korea, and rights are are currently being negotiated for the United States, Germany, and France.
8-9-06 (8:21AM EDT)---- 2,000 Toei Animation Episodes Go Online
Rakuten Ltd. in cooperation with Toei Animation Ltd. have agreed to deliver about 2,000 episodes of from Toei's library online for download. The service began in Japan on August 8th. Series available include Slam Dunk, Fist Of The Northstar, Galaxy Express 999 and Ja Witch. 105 Yen is being charged per per episode download. 8-9-06 (7:55AM EDT)---- New SNS Aims To Bring Japanese Talent To Hollywood
Matrix Visual Effects Supervisor John Gaeta has been fairly active in Japan recently. The latest project he's involved with aims to cultivate Japanese visual contents creative talent and then offer the best a chance to work in Hollywood. The business model is fairly interesting also, it all revolves around www.axn.or.jp, a SNS (community networking website) ala Myspcae or Mixi. Actor and Producer Kenji Isomura's Presario corporation and the NPO Japanese Entertainment Industrial Laboratories jointly mangage the new venture. Through the site, participating creators can sign up and list full details and presentations of their respective contents projects via a profile, SNS style. Appleseed Director Shinji Aramaki and John Gaeta will scout and give advice to up and coming creators through the site.
Not only movie production but music, scenario scripting, CG and web design, have been made objects of the project. Registration recruitment begins in August.
8-9-06 (6:14AM EDT)---- Aya Hirayama Announced For Atagoal Cast
Actress Aya Hirayama will play the lead role in the new anime film Atagoal wa Neko no Mori. The theatrical opening is scheduled for Ocotber.
The original manga by Masamura Hirosi is 30 years old and still much loved in Japan.
8-9-06 (4:35AM EDT)---- Goro Miyazaki Worked On Satsuki & Mei House Design
Following the release of Gedo Senki to Japanese theaters last week, Director Goro Miyazaki's Japanese press saturation campaign contiunes with an interview in the Tokyo Shimbun. It says he studied forest engineering at Shinshu University and later worked on the integrated design of the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka as a construction consultant in 1998. He also took charge of the design generalization of Satsuki and Meis House that was main attraction of the Aichi Earth Expo last year. Yomiuri Shimbun has yet another interview with Goro. Towards the bottom of that page you can see a still from Gedo Senki that is said to be based off an identical image in Hayao Miyazaki's "Travel of Shuna" booklet that served as the basis for some of the keyframe / storyboard work.
8-9-06 (4:08AM EDT)---- Manga Article In TIME Magazine
From the Aug. 14, 2006 issue, Tokyopop references a new article on manga in TIME Magazine. Some interesting excerpts:
"Every major publishing house has either got their whole foot or their big toe in this pool right now," says Calvin Reid, a co-editor of the trade magazine PW Comics Week. It makes sense, considering the $5 billion global manga market. Tokyopop, the largest U.S.-owned creator and licensor of manga, with $40 million in sales last year, signed a co-publishing deal with HarperCollins. The 11-to-21-year-old market is huge, says CEO Jane Friedman, who predicts steady growth for the category. The Princess Diaries' Meg Cabot will publish Avalon High next spring; additional young-adult titles will follow. In January, Simon & Schuster expanded its partnership with San Francisco--based Viz Media, a top publisher that licenses manga from Japanese publishers Shueisha and Shogakukan. Random House just launched its second label, Tanoshimi. And Canadian Harlequin will launch Ginger Blossom, romance story lines in manga, in September. Fans can download Tokyopop's "manga pods" (audio snippets). There's a music label and a MySpace site, and mobile-manga games are on the way. Tokyopop is planning TV animation and-- the ultimate crossover--a motion picture with Sony Screen Gems. Anyone for Manga Meets Spider-Man?
Thanks To Daniel Zelter For The News Link
8-9-06 (3:52AM EDT)---- BS Manga Yawa Guests For August
NHK's irregularly aired anime and manga docu program / chat show, BS Manga Yawa has some new guests coming up for this month. Broadcast occurs on BS2 at 23:00. Monday, August 7 - Millenium Actress 2002 - Satoshi Kon
Tuesday, August 8 - Yuusha Raiden 1975 - Yoshiyuki Tomino / Tadao Nagahama
Wednesday, August 9 23:00- Full Metal Alchemist 2003-05 - Seiji Mizushima
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