Anime News Service - December 13-31 Anime News

12-22-05 (10:19PM EST)---- Highest Export Price In Korean Animation History

NHK and JoongAng Ilbo mention the Shoujo Janggeum no Yume TV animation will air in Japan in April 2006. The acquistion marks the most money paid for a Korean Animation license to date. Although the actual figure has not been revealed, JoongAng Ilbo interviewed someone related to the MBC contents project team who said the amount of money was not inferior to exports of drama TV series. Additionally it was hinted the prictag rose to three times of the existing average animation export price. Plans are already underway to distribute the series throughout Asia.

12-22-05 (9:49PM EST)---- South Korea Expects 1 Billion Dollar Income From Cultural Exports

South Korea is looking at their first 1 billion dollar year regarding cultural exports such as video games, movies, broadcasting, and animation, etc. 800 million dollars have been recorded so far and if they can reach their projected figure it will represent a 31% increase over 2003's 610 million gross.

12-22-05 (9:35PM EST)---- Production I.G. Stock Price Goes Up 3.5x

Kabushiki and Radio Nikkei report Prodcution I.G.'s IPO of 510,000 Yen increased to 1,500,000 Yen at the market close of first day' trading on the JASDAQ, December 21st. The second day saw a 3.5x leap over the IPO asking price with a close at 1,800,000 Yen. You can follow the stock's moves at Livedoor Finance.

12-22-05 (9:09PM EST)---- China Aims At 50-60% Yearly Contents Industry Growth

Chechiang Province, Hangzhou City has announced their "Policy statement (2006-10) regarding animation, comics and the game industry". During this period, a goal of 50-60% annual growth has been revealed. Hangzhou will become a hub of the nation's animation industry with the construction of the 40,000 square meter "Hangzhou Animation Park". 50 companies involved in the contents Industry are already based out of the city.

12-22-05 (8:48PM EST)---- Newtype BB Online Music Service

Listen Japan and Kadokawa Shoten have partnered to creat the "Newtype BB Animation Music Download" service. It launched on the 21st of December in Japan. Animation, SFX and seiyuu related music will be offered starting from around 150 Yen per song. About 400 selections are currently being offered. Click here for the official site.

12-22-05 (8:45PM EST)---- "Pokemon" Gene Renamed

Gamasutra reports that researchers at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York have changed the name of a gene found to cause cancer, due to legal pressure from Nintendo's Pokemon USA. The gene, which has the formal name of POK erythroid myeloid ontogenic gene, was previously abbreviated as POKEMON, leading to media reports that compared the game with aspects of the disease, albeit in a lighthearted fashion. Scientific journal Nature reported that Pokemon USA, the subsidiary company of Nintendo established to control the Pokemon brand in America, threatened to sue the cancer research center on the understandable grounds that equating Pokemon with cancer was doing harm to the brand's image. Sloan-Kettering acquiesced to the company's demands and changed the gene's name to the more unobtrusive Zbtb7.

12-22-05 (3:13PM EST)---- Shonen Onmyoji Presite Opens

The official presite for Shonen Onmyoji has launched at seimeinomago.net.

12-21-05 (5:45PM EST)---- Little Nemo Released To DVD In Japan

Bandai Visual will release the animated film Little Nemo to DVD for the first time in Japan on December 23 at a 8,190 Yen retail. After 6 years of production, the film was made for 5.3 billion Yen. It opened theatrically in 1989 in Japan and 1991 in the USA. About 2 million copies were sold in the US in 1994 upon home video release. The character was created by American Windsor Mckay in the early 20th century. The work has been spoken highly of by such creators as Osamu Tezuka and George Lucas. Directors on the project included Masami Hata and William T. Hurtz. Writing credits included Ray Bradbury, Chris Columbus, Yutaka Fujioka, Jean Giraud, Richard Outten and Edward Summer. The film runs 95 minutes, 38 minutes worth of bonus footage will be added including the original 1987 pilot film. Other extras such as storyboards etc.. are on disc. R2 Importers will note the inclusion of Japanese and English audio. Japanese subtitles can be selected as well.

12-21-05 (4:55PM EST)---- BIGLOBE Internet Anime Delivery Starts In Taiwan

NEC's BIGLOBE will start an internet animation pay delivery service in on December 24th. The first contents to be available will be the Chinese versions of "World Masterpiece Theater". The use charges are about 288 yen per episode / for 2 days viewing.

12-21-05 (4:55PM EST)---- The Changing Face Of Akihabara

IT PRO notes some changes and construction rennovations that have and continue to take place in Akihabara, they ask the question "Does "Does The Akihabara Boom Continue?".

12-21-05 (4:41PM EST)---- Japan And China Strengthen Ties On Animation

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has mentioned it's strengthening public relations among citizens of China through animation. Readers may recall relations towards the Japanese deteriorated in China in the last year follwoing massive protests and demonstrations. Now it's being reported several popular anime TV series will stream in on domestic airwaves next year. An allocated budget that goes toward broadcasting animation in China will be boosted from 1.16 billion yen to 3.11 billion yen over 2006. Shows like One Piece have become hits in China. Negotiation with a local TV stations will be done in the future.

12-21-05 (2:05PM EST)---- RAY: THE ANIMATION Web

The official website for the upcoming Ray TV series has opened at ray.tv.

12-21-05 (1:46PM EST)---- Takehiko Inoue Accused Of Plagiarism

Just a few months after it was concluded Takehiko Inoue's manga imagery was "appropriated" by another artist, the Slam Dunk creator himself is now facing similar accusations. Courtesy The Mainichi Shimbun:

Inoue successfully accused Yuki Suetsugu of ripping off his work, which led to a court ruling a few months ago banning all 25 books making up Suetsugu's "Eden no Hana" series and ordering their recall. Inoue's litigation sent shockwaves through the manga world, but now Inoue is facing accusations that he stole work for "Slam Dunk." "Some of the cuts of players pictured in 'Slam Dunk' are almost identical to the photos of NBA players in basketball magazines. I wouldn't go so far to say that he's done exactly what Suetsugu did and traced other drawings, but there's no doubt he's at least used the photos as a reference," a comic industry magazine's chief editor tells Cyzo. "Considering we're talking about an artist who's sold over 100 million copies here, the effects of being exposed like that could be pretty far-reaching." "Making a bad situation even worse, there's a site from South Korea, a well-known copycat capital, that listed the manga frames from 'Slam Dunk' right beside the photos of NBA players that they are supposed to have been copied from and let the whole world know," a writer specializing in online news tells Cyzo. "This has caused Inoue to lose a whole lot of face."

12-21-05 (1:46PM EST)---- Tezuka's Son Makes BlackJack Even Blacker

The Daily Yomiuri has an in-depth piece in English about the new BlackJack animated film.

12-21-05 (12:11AM EST)---- Funimation Anime Screening

FUNIMATION presents a SIX HOUR FESTIVAL of ANIME, featuring the PREMIERES of DESERT PUNK, new episodes of FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST before they air on cable, PREMIERES of Volume Six of BURST ANGEL, and episodes of DragonBall Z, Lupin the Third, Blue Gender, Samurai 7, Gunslinger Girl, and others. The program is still being put together, and the full program will be posted at the Convention on Sunday, January 15. The Festival begins at 11:00 A.M.and runs until 5:00 P.M., and the Convention is bringing out a larger screen for it. FUNIMATION is supplying posters and cards to give-away at the event while supplies last. JOYRIDE is the company behind the new FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST Trading Card Game, and they will have volunteers set up at a table to do demos of the game, as well as give out a free exclusive promo card.
Even though the program is Anime related, the Dealer's Room will still have a wide varierty of Comic Books and Collectibles, and not just anime merchandise, which will also be featured.

FUNIMATION is a leading distributor of such popular anime as the DRAGONBALL series, LUPIN THE THIRD, FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, BURST ANGEL, SAMURAI 7, CASE CLOSED, FRUITS BASKET, BAKI THE GRAPPLER, THE GALAXY RAILWAYS, SAKURA TAISEN, TENCHI MUYO GXP, GUNSLINGER GIRL, and many others.
Source: www.comicbookscifi.com

12-20-05 (4:21PM EST)---- Otaku Market Company Taxable Income

How much money are your favortie anime, manga and game related companies making in Japan this year? Some new figures were released in October which mention the taxable income for several otaku market companies:

12-20-05 (10:48AM EST)---- New Legislation Could Regulate Violent Manga

On December 19th, Japan's Liberal Democratic Party has taken the first steps toward the enactment of a bill that would regulate violent manga published in the country. The legislation move was made public as part of the emergency task force's "Hanzai kara kodomo wo mamoru" (Children Are Defended From Crime) initiative. According language used by the LDP, the goal is the promotion and maintenance of a healthy environment for young people. This comes against a recent backdrop of increased crime against women and children. They claim a link in many of these criminal acts exists between kiddie porn, violent comics and even games. The LDP feels it necessary to reform the current state. Some prefectures and cities have already been restricting such kiddie porn etc. by creating and enforcing ordinances. An attempt will be made to draft and pass the "Seishounen Kenzen Ikusei Suishin Kihonhou" (Fundamental Law Of Youth Health). Some anti-violence manga related items are expected to end up in a final bill that will then go before the diet. Currently, the LDP is trying to rouse public opinion on the matter.

12-20-05 (10:18AM EST)---- TAF 2006 To Be Largest Ever

New information is out on the 2006 Tokyo Anime Fair. For it's fifth year, the executive committee has announced 220 exhibitor companies will participate as of December 14th. In 2005 only 197 companies exhibited. In addition the exhibition space has increased dramtically, expanding from 2 to 3 halls at Tokyo Big Sight. Aound 80,000+ attended the fair las year. As previously reported, vendors space will be seperated in 2006 to a special "Animation Bazaar", it turns out this space will be have free admitance. This is designed to draw in more visitors.

12-19-05 (4:03PM EST)---- Yahoo To Deliver 100,000 Free Animation Works

Yahoo / RBB Today is reporting the Yahoo Animation portal will offer 100,000 animation titles to internet users via free delivery. Softbank is teaming with Yahoo to bring the project to fruition. Profit will be generated through advertisement placerd inthe animation video. GyaO's similar and free USEN service has five million members currently. More details will be made available at a forthcoming press conference. At the link you can see a sneak peek at the companies to offer their animation content to the service. The list reads like a who's who of the Japanese animation industry. The announcement comes just on the heels of Livedoor unveiling their online animation delivery site last week.

12-19-05 (3:39PM EST)---- Japanese Box Office

Kogyo Tsushinsha has posted it's weekend Japanese box office figures for Dec 17-18:
1. Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
2. Yamato
3. King Kong
5. Mr. And Mrs. Smith 5. Stormy Night
6. Superfleet Sazer X The Movie Fight! Star Soldiers/ The King Of Beetles "Mushiking" Road To The Greatest Champion The Movie
7. Memoirs Of A Geisha
8. Pretty Cure Max Heart 2
9. Zathura
10. Black Jack The Two Doctors Of Darkness

12-19-05 (2:55PM EST)---- Black Lagoon To Be Animated

Hiroe Rei's Black Lagoon manga serialized in Sunday GX Comics (Shogakukan) will be animated in the form of a TV series. Confirmed staff includes Director & Scenario & Series Composer Sunao Katabuchi, Character Designer Shino Masanori and Animation Production by Madhouse. An official website has been opened at www.blacklagoon.jp.

12-18-05 (6:17PM EST)---- Madhouse Frame On AEON FLUX Box Set Rear

In addition to the AEON FLUX: The Complete Animated Collection (released in the USA November 22nd), including a 15 second CD-ROM commercial produced at Madhouse Studios, the rear cover illustration of the box set is composed of one of the final frames of the same Japanese animated short.

12-17-05 (7:17PM EST)---- Disappearance Diary Takes Cultural Prize

The Agency for Cultural Affairs has announced it's 2005 media art festival prize winners. 1,797 works were judged submitted from outside and inside Japan. The Grand Prize winner of the manga section was Azuma Hideo's "Shisso Nikki" (Disappearance Diary). Azuma was also the winner of The Excellence Prize at the 34th Japan Cartoonists Association Awards. The story is an autobiographical account of the two times he disappeared from his home (effectively becoming homeless) plus his later battles with alcoholism at an alcohol rehabilitation center. His Vagabond status (both times) only came to an end when he was caught by the police. Instead of taking a serious approach to the matter, however, Azuma depicts the events in a disarmingly comical and light-hearted tone. He's said to be even geekier and more eccentric than director Hideki Anno and has developed several gag/nonsense and lolicon manga (he was partly responsible for the bishojo manga boom today). His past works include Ochamegami Monogatari Korokoro Poron and Nanako SOS. On November 14th ANS reported the work may serve as the basis for a forthcoming TV drama series. Excellent Prize winners include Naoki Urasawa' PLUTO, Kaoru Mori's Emma and Mita Norifusa's Dragon Zakura. In the animation section the Brains-Base / Aniplex TV anime Kamichu took one of the Excellent Prizes.

12-17-05 (6:46PM EST)---- Penelope To Be Animated In Japan

Nippon Animation has announced it will adapt Anne Gutman and Georg Hallensleben's "Penelope" series of childrens picture books to TV animation in Japan. The husband-and-wife team lives in Paris, France. Anne Gutman published her first book, How to Get Rid of Your Little Brother, in 1980. Georg Hallensleben is the illustrator of Baboon, Spider Spider, and And If the Moon Could Talk, winner of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, all written by Kate Banks. In 1999, he wrote and illustrated Pauline. Additionally Nippon Animation has acquired the commercialization rights to the series. A planned telecast is currently scheduled for sometime after October, 2006. Production of the animation has already began. The book series is a worldwide bestseller with 213,000 copies sold as of October, 2005. Iwasaki Shoten is the Japanese publisher of the Penelope books.

12-17-05 (6:40PM EST)---- Kyoto International Manga Museum Moves Forward

A public forum discussing the planned Kyoto International Manga Museum was held on December 17th in Kyoto City, Nakagyo Ward. There, city official and citizens exchanged opinions on the project. When opened next autumn, this will be Japan's first museum soley dedicated to manga. Animation will also be featured among the 200,000 items on display.

12-17-05 (6:18PM EST)---- Ai Fukuhara To Guest Star In Kotencotenco

Japanese Ping Pong (Table Tennis) star Ai Fukuhara will make a guest vocal appearance on the January 26, 2006 epsidoe of the Kotencotenco TV animation. This marks her first voice acting role.

12-17-05 (6:18PM EST)---- Hana Yori Dango Drama Awarded

Yomiuri Shimbun reports the TBS TV drama adaptation of Kamio Yoko's Hana Yori Dango manga has clenched the "2005 Watashi No Dorama Taishou" (My Drama Award) Prize. The serial drew 412 votes.

12-17-05 (5:42PM EST)---- SMAP's Inagaki In New One Piece Movie

32 year old Inagaki Goro of SMAP will voice the main villain in the upcoming One Piece: Karakuri Shiro no Mecha Kyohei. The film role marks Inagaki's debut as a voice actor. He will portray the chracter of a mad genius inventor. One Piece Movie 7 opens on March 4th, 2006.

12-17-05 (5:42PM EST)---- Top Anime Theme Songs Of 2005

Oricon has revealed a list of the most popular anime musical themes released over 2005. "*-Asterisk" by Orange Range tops the list with many Gundam related themes ranking on the list of 10.

12-17-05 (5:32PM EST)---- Favorite Manga Of 2005

Oricon Style executed a survey of the favorite manga among it's readers for 2005, the results are as follows:
1. NANA
2. Hana Yori Dango
3. DEATH NOTE
4. Dragon Zakura
5. Honey And Clover

12-17-05 (5:05PM EST)---- Naruto To Become Theatrical Play

The group MA (Musical Academy) will adapt the story of Kishimoto Masashi's Naruto to a theatrical stage play in Japan. Princess Tenko (Princess Tenko and the Guardians of Magic) is heading up the project. Serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump", the 30 existing volumes of manga has sold 59 million copies. An original story will be used in the play. Tomoyuki Yara and Jun Akiyama will star. The debut performance will be held in Gotanda U-Port Kan'i Hoken Hall on May 4 next year. A show in Osaka is also planned for the 19th.

12-17-05 (1:41PM EST)---- Shonen Onmyoji To Be Animated

According to Kadokawa Shoten's just released josei novel magazine The Beans volume 6, Mitsuru Yuki's Shonen Onmyoji will be adapted to animation. The Beans serializes stories aimed at young women.

12-16-05 (2:54PM EST)---- Soutakun No Akihabara To Be Animated

According to the January, 2006 edition of Square-Enix's GFantasy Magazine, Jiro Suzuki's Soutakun No Akihabara Huntouki manga will be adapted to animation. Now word on the format or other details as of yet. The comic currently serializes within the pages of the magazine.

12-16-05 (1:20PM EST)---- Livedoor Gets Into Animation

Livedoor launched it's own internet animation portal in Japan on the 16th. Presently it seems the site will be an outlet for more independent creators to showcase their works.

12-16-05 (1:12PM EST)---- Ergo Proxy Introduction Program

In advance of the broadcast start of Ergo Proxy, it's been announced a special mini program that introduces the charm of the new TV animation will air. Part 1 will screen Saturday, January 07, 2006 at 19:24- in HiVision. Part 2 follows on Saturday, January 14, 2006 at 19:24- in HiVision.

12-16-05 (12:56PM EST)---- Getsumen Usagi Heiki Mina OVA Official Website

Solidifying it's role regarding the work, GONZO has launched an official website for the upcoming Getsumen Usagi Heiki Mina OVA. The animation is based on the fictional one seen repeatedly in Fuji TV's live action drama Densha Otoko (Trainman). GONZO also did the Mina anime sequences for the drama. 17 year old Takeda Karin voices the character. According to a post on the new site, the animation project is progressing.

12-15-05 (3:00PM EST)---- Animax Launches In South Korea

World Screen reports Sony Pictures Television International's anime network Animax will launch in South Korea in the second quarter of 2006. SPTI has formed a joint venture with Korean DTH platform SkyLife to launch Animax Korea. It will be available exclusively to SkyLife's 1.9 million subscribers. "Since the launch of Animax Asia in January 2004, we have seen exponential growth from one million households when it launched to more than 22 million Asian households," said Andy Kaplan, SPTI's president of international networks. "I am confident that Animax Korea's incredible anime programming, combined with SkyLife's strong distribution network, will make Animax Korea a destination for viewers in Korea. With the expansion to Korea, Animax will be an even more effective advertising platform for multinational advertisers to extend their promotional reach."

12-15-05 (2:26PM EST)---- Hellsing OVA Expanded By 15 Minutes

Geneon Entertainment held an advance screening of their forthcoming Hellsing OVA at Kitazawa hall, Shimo-Kitazawa Tokyo on November 27, 2005. It was mentioned the original planned length of the first volume was 35 minutes and this had been expanded to 50 minutes. The decision was made as the Rondo Robe and YK OURS (Shonen Gahousha) staff agreed the original length did not properly allow for a telling of the story as they thought it deserved. This change also greatly altered the production schedule and therefore the version screened at the event was considered incomplete. Consequently, the release date of the first volume was delayed to January 26, 2006. Of the project, director Tomokazu Tokoro said the following: "HELLSING" I want to draw without compromising to the last minute."

12-15-05 (2:22PM EST)---- Advance Gashapon Expands Into 500 Stores

AM3 Ltd. announced it's Advance Gashapon vending machines will appear in 551 shops across Japan. The machines dispense animation carts which can be viewed on Nintendo's Gameboy Advance/Nintendo DS. Examples of works offered via the service include the Pokemon movies. Trial service began in March of this year in an effort to test the market. 5 companies are now producing content as well.

12-15-05 (2:06PM EST)---- Today In Anime History

On December 15th, 1979 Hayao Miyazaki's animated film adaptation of the Monkey Punch Manga Lupin III, "Cagliostro's Castle" opened to theaters nationwide in Japan.

12-15-05 (1:59PM EST)---- 2nd House To Be Dramatized

Based on the manga by Nanase Ayumu & Kashida Masanori and serialized in Shueisha's Manga Allman Magazine, 2nd House will be adapted to a TV Drama in Japan. A press conference announcing the details of the series, to begin broadcasting via TV Tokyo on January 13th, 2006 was held at Hotel Okura in Minato Ward, Tokyo on the 14th. V6's Hiroshi Naganao and Isoyama Sayaka will star. Nagano previously starred in the sentai action serial Ultra-Man Tiga. The 2nd House manga began running in 2001 and tells a comedic story about a businessman in his 30's, a theatrical company member who dreams to become an actress and a country home.

12-15-05 (1:11PM EST)---- Robot Taekwon V Honored

The restored Korean animated film Robot Taekwon V has won this year's Republic of Korea Diet "General Public Culture & Media Grand Prize" in the comic and animation section. The business staff of the movie promotion committee and Director directed by Chonggi Kim who led the extensive restoration efforts accepted the prize at a ceremony held on the 9th. The project began in August, 2003, and 72 people were involved. The completed work was screened at the 10th Pusan International Film Festival held in October.

12-15-05 (12:20PM EST)---- Top Japanese Films Of 2005

The top grossing Japanese films of 2005 have been revealed. Analyzing the data shows Toho's continued dominance over Japan's movie industry. Additionally, almost all of the titles on the list can claim anime and manga influence or are animations themselves:
1. Howl's Moving Castle (Toho) 19.6 billion yen
2. Pokemon Advance Generation: Myuu to Hadou no Yuusha (Toho) 4.3 billion yen
3. Koushou Nin Mashita Seigi (Toho) 4.2 billion yen
4. NANA (Toho) 4.03 billion yen
5. Yougisha Muroi Shin Tsugi (Toho) 3.83 billion yen
6. Densha Otoko (Toho) 3.7 billion yen
7. Kita No Rei Nen (Toei) 2.7 billion yen
8. Always -Sunset on Third Street- (Toho) 2.5 billion yen
9. Lorelei (Toho) 2.4 billion yen
10. Hoshi Ninatta Shounen (Toho) 2.3 billion yen

12-15-05 (11:19AM EST)---- Shimura Ken No Bakatonosama Goes International

Shimura Ken no Bakatonosama, the popular Japanese TV variety show featuring skits by comedian Shimura Ken will make a large advancement to overseas markets in 2006. The series also featured Japanese comedians Masashi Tashiro and Nobuyoshi Kuwano. The show will be sold on DVD in the UK, Europe, America and Asian nations. The President of Universal Pictures in Britain has expressed a strong desire to see the work released there. Universal Pictures Japan will lead the charge with the "Shimura Kenno Baka Tonosama DVD-BOX" to street on January 27 next year. Depending on favorable sales in Japan the release schedule internationally can be expected to be stepped up. Due to the controversial nature of the show's comedy, in June last year the Bakatono ended up on the questionnaire "Program That Doesn't Want To Be Shown To Children" drafted by the National Congress of Parents and Teachers Association. Bakatono has a 20 year history in Japan and litteraly means "Foolish Lord". The central character is a classical Japanese samurai with some quirky traits. Takeshi Kitano is among Ken Shimura's admitted fans.

12-14-05 (10:30AM EST)---- Ergo Proxy Cast

Some of the first cast names have leaked out from Manglobe's (Samurai Champloo) next anime TV project Ergo Proxy: Lil Meyer: Nashie Saito, Pino: Akiko Yajima, Vincent Row: Koji Yuza.

12-14-05 (10:11AM EST)---- Anime Makes Top Yahoo Searches

Reuters reports on the just released Yahoo annual Buzz Index, which reveals top queries through the search engine over the year. According to their findings, video searchers went for Spears [Britney], "anime," "funny videos," Simpson [Jessica] and 50 Cent.

12-14-05 (12:49PM EST)---- Publisher's Weekly CPM Interview

Peter Tatara of CPM writes in mentioning the December 13th issue of Publishers Weekly features an article on CPM Press's 2006 plans and an interview with CPM's new head of book sale, Ali Kokmen. It talks about CPM Press's 2005 hibernation and its launch plans for next year.

12-14-05 (11:18AM EST)---- Most Japanese Fighting Game Ever

Inverted Castle reports a doujin soft group calling themselves Game Programming Study Club has created the most Japanese fighting game EVER. Line Kill Spirits is a 3D fighting game that features little girls beating up on each other; nothing new there. The kicker, however, is that any damage you do to your opponent will slowly regenerate unless- wait for it- you take a picture of her panties.

12-14-05 (10:32AM EST)---- Super Eurobeat 165 NON-STOP

To go on sale in Japan in February, Avex's Super Eurobeat 165 will be a NON-STOP megamix album. 25 tracks selected from SEB albums released in 2005 will make up the set. Confirmed are RIDER OF THE SKY / ACE and LOVE IS... / VIRGINELLE.

12-14-05 (9:37AM EST)---- Working Designs Closes Doors

Gamespot reports niche publisher Working Designs is gone, according to company president Victor Ireland. "There's no easy way to say it, so I just will. Working Designs is gone. All the staff has been laid off and the office is closed and has been for some time," Ireland wrote in a message board post on the company's official forums. The news comes just over a year after the company's last release, Growlanser Generations, hit shelves. "We just spent too much time fighting the good fight to even get it out," Ireland wrote of Growlanser, "and other games approved." One such game the company apparently failed to get approved was the PlayStation 2 action adventure game Goemon. "Though almost finished and substantially improved from the Japanese release, Goemon is dead for the US, and that was really the final straw," Ireland wrote. "If I can't guarantee that the games I personally choose for us to release in the US can actually get approved and come out, there's no business to be done." Thanks to Daniel for the news.

12-13-05 (11:20AM EST)---- Mahou Sensei Negima! Sequels?

In a recent public appearance Mahou Sensei Negima! mangaka Ken Akamatsu (Love Hina) reportedly mentioned when referring to the animation cast: "It seems there will be a long association with the seiyuu stretching in the future". The latest Negima TV series ended in Japan in the summer. Since then, American licensor Funimation announced they have the license to the TV anime at Anime Vegas in October.

12-13-05 (11:15AM EST)---- ASIMO Upgraded

BCN Ranking reports Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced they've greatly improved their humanoid robot ASIMO. Operation of the units are said to begin in Honda's Wako office building next spring. Likewise leasing of the robots is scheduled to be available in short order. Asimo can now walk hand in hand with a person while matching their pace, in addition the new version can operate transportation devices such as pushcarts and make deliveries automatically via the development of the integrated control system. Running ability is also improved greatly, ASIMO can now run at 6km and turn while running. Honda wants to work on developing the robot's artifical intelligence in the future.

12-13-05 (10:54AM EST)---- Howl Wins New York Film Critics Award

Nikkan Sports reports the New York Film Critics Circle has awarded Howl's Moving Castle with a Best Animated Film award on the 12th. The prize of this society is known foretell future Academy Award winners. Spirited Away took this same prize in 2002.

12-13-05 (10:45AM EST)---- More On Gedo Senki

Japan's Nihon Keizai Shimbun mentions author Ursula K. Le Guin originally nominated Hayao Miyazaki to direct the coming Gedo Senki animated film but becuase his work began on Howl's Moving Castle, the role was given to Goro. This marks Goro Miyazaki's first involvement in the production of animation. Ghibli's latest director served as the superintendent of the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka city until June this year. Production on the film has already started.

12-13-05 (10:28AM EST)---- Japanese Box Office

Kogyo Tsushinsha has posted it's Japanese movie boxoffice figures for the weekend of Dec 10-11:
1. Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
2. Mr. And Mrs. Smith
3. Stormy Night
4. Memoirs Of A Geisha
5. Pretty Cure Max Heart 2
6. Always -Sunset on Third Street-
7. Zathura
8. A Moment To Remember
9. Empire Of The Wolves
10. In Her Shoes

12-13-05 (10:08AM EST)---- Air Gear To Be Animated

Oh Great!'s (Tenjho Tenge) latest manga Air Gear will be adapted to an anime TV series in 2006. The news comes from some some recent print ads (such as the one to the right) for the manga. Details are expected to be revealed in an upcoming issue of Kodansha's Shonen Magazine where Air Gear serializes.

12-13-05 (9:52AM EST)---- World Cosplay Summit 2006

Details on the World Cosplay Summit 2006 are public. The event was held for the 3rd consecutive year in August at the Aichi Expo. The theme behind World Cosplay Summit is international exchange through the costume play culture that has spread to a worldwide scale now. Thailand has been added to official country roster, joining 7 other countries (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, China, the United States, and Japan). A related photo session has already been carried out at CONNICI in Kassel, Germany in September of this year.

12-13-05 (8:41AM EST)---- Howl's Moving Castle To Screen In Dubai

A dubbed version of Howl's Moving Castle will be shown for free at the Dubai International Film festival in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The screening will occur at a commons area outside the dubai media city building, where the audience can sit on the grass and watch the film. This will take place on the 15th of Decembe at 20.00. For more details please see the Official Website. Thanks to Jalal Siah for the news.

12-13-05 (8:24AM EST)---- Gedo Senki Confirmed As Ghibli's Next

As reported yesterday the Studio Ghibli website has relaunched, their new URL is http://www.ghibli.jp/. Via the revamp, the studio has revealed their next animation film project will be "Gedo Senki" (with English subtitle "TALES from EARTHSEA") directed by Goro Miyazaki (Hayao Miyazaki's son). The new movie is adapted from American writer Ursula K Le Guin's "A Wizard of Earthsea". The planned theatrical release in Japan is July, 2006. Additionally on the new site you can view a production and director's diary. Readers may recall on September 20th ANS was the first English news source to report on this possiblilty. A blog entry of an anonymous editor working for a publisher in Tokyo then predicted the next film animation work to be tackled by Studio Ghibli would be based on the Earthsea series of novels by American fantasy writer Ursula K. Le Guin. When presented with only a last (family) name we incorrectly assumed Hayao Miyazaki would be directing although at the time he was the only publicly known Miyazkai directing films at the studio. The Japanese editor reportedly first learned of this news when a film rights option was being sought by the book's Japanese publisher Iwanami Shoten. The America-based Sci-Fi Channel adapted Le Guin's Earthsea series to TV in 2004 in it's "Legend of Earthsea" miniseries. The author has expressed her disapproval of the faithfulness to the original works of the above TV version. Hayao Miyazaki, has in the past admitted being an admirer of Le Guin's writings.

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