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Apr 08 – Otaku Madness - Posted By Hisaishi
Anime News of the Week (4/1 - 4/7)
Blossoming on the Silver Screen
The critically acclaimed 11-episode anime, Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, will be reimagined as a film on August 31st. Anohana follows several childhood friends who reunite in high school after a childhood tragedy drove them apart.
Back to the Future Gadget Lab
At the Anime Contents Expo, the panel for Nitroplus revealed that the Steins;Gate franchise will inspire a stage play that's set to premiere in October. Six stories were written for the play and a select group can vote on which ones will make the cut. The play runs October 12th to 20th at the Zepp Diver City Hall in Tokyo. Link
Mascot Revealed for Tokyo Olympic Bid
Tokyo is bidding for the 2020 Summer Olympics and is calling in the big guns to help them. Anime legend Doraemon will be the Ambassador for the Olympic Bid. He will appear at promotional events and appear on the official Facebook page, among other duties. Masato Mizuno, CEO for Tokyo 2020, was quoted as saying Doreamon "is a powerful reminder of Japan's ability to... deliver a dynamic celebration that strengthens Olympic Values and encourages young people to pursue their dreams through sport." Link
Meet the New Boss, Same As The Old Boss
Actress Ayame Gōriki has signed on for the lead role in the live-action film version of Black Butler. Set in the near future, Gōriki plays Shiori Genpō, the new head of the Phantomhive estate. When tradition dictates only men can run the family business, she don a suit and tie and becomes Kiyoharu Genpō, CEO of the Phantom Corporation. Joining Gōriki is Hiro Mizushima as the gentlemanly demon Sebastian Michaelis. Link
Australia Wins Right to Screen Shinkai
The Gold Coast Film Festival of Broadbeach Queensland, Australia, has been selected to premiere Makoto Shinkai’s newest film, The Garden of Words. Also joining the lineup are Wolf Children, a Robotech documentary entitled Carl Macek’s Robotech Universe and the Australian premiere of Berserk: The Golden Age 2 – The Battle for Doldrey. Link
Anime Landmark To Be Preserved
A fan preservation project is lining up to protect a dilapidated building in Kamiichi, Toyoma Prefecture for its importance to recent anime history. The building served as inspiration for the residence of Hana and her children in Wolf Children. Currently owned by husband and wife Masami and Yoriko Yamazaki, their age prevents them from fixing the house, as snow removal alone cost roughly 2,000-3,000 U.S. dollars yearly. Link
I Shall Call Him...Mini-Me
At Anime Contents Expo Sony revealed their newest technology: the Human Figure-Making Project. Using a body scanner, programmers can take any human and laser cut a scale mold, making a 15-centimeter painted figure of said human. Preorders are currently being taken and each order costs $500. Link
Mew Redux?
The Pokémon Company began streaming a video from their newest entry in the Pokémon video game franchise, revealing a new creature that "bears an intriguing resemblance to the legendary Mewtwo." The name has yet to be confirmed, but fans have already deemed it "Mewthree."
Hatsune is the Video Star
In celebration of the Vocaloid franchise, fans held the second annual Vocaloid Cinema Party at the Sony Building in Ginza. The event screens the latest music videos developed for the Vocaloid franchise. This year marks the introduction of the 4K screen "Opus", a system which quadruples the amount of resolution seen in traditional HD systems and is the current standard of the film industry.
The Age of Peace May Soon End
While the world is raptly attentive to the Korean Conflict, another Asian schism crops on the horizon. Japan, forced into pacifism at the end of WWII, may soon begin rebuilding an army and exercise the option to declare war. This comes as China insists it owns part of the Japanese archipelago. While China/Japan relations have never been good, this will be the first time in history Japan is behind in military strength. Link
Now Hiring: Japanese Ambassador
In other political news, the United States will soon name its newest Ambassador to Japan. Leading the race is Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former president John F. Kennedy and co-chairwoman of the second campaign of President Obama. While not having direct connections with Japan, Kennedy would follow a long tradition of famous political figures holding the seat and would become the first woman to do so. Link
RIP Roger Ebert
Legendary film critic Roger Ebert has died from papillary thyroid cancer. Throughout the majority of his 46-year career as a film reviewer for the Chicago Sun-Times and several television series, he "loved movies, except for those he hated" and defined the hyper-scrutinizing modus operandi for the modern day critic. Ebert was also a well-known advocate for anime films, especially the works of Hayao Miyazaki. His intense praise and defense of My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service and Spirited Away helped the films and anime in general to gain renown with Western audiences. [Link
Anime Premieres (Spring Season!)
- Attack on Titan
- Baku Tech! Bakugan Gachi
- Boku wa Ō-sama
- Danbōru Senki Wars
- Danchi Tomoo
- Devil Survivor 2 The Animation
- DD Hokuto no Ken
- Flowers of Evil
- Gakkatsu!!
- Ginga Kikōtai Majestic Prince
- Haitai Nanafa
- Hataraku Maou-sama!
- Hyakka Ryoran Samurai Bride
- Jewelpet Happiness
- Karneval
- Kuromajyo-san go Tōru!!
- Line Town
- Namiuchigiwa no Mumori-san
- Ore no Imōto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai
- Photo Kano
- Pretty Rhythm Rainbow Live
- Severing Crime Edge
- Tanken Driland – 1000-nen No Mahō
- Tetsujin 28-gō Gao!
- Uta no Prince Sama – Maji Love 2000%
- Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteru
- Yondemasuyo, Azazel-san. Z
- Zettai Bōei Leviathan
Anime Releases
- Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan Set 1 DVD/Blu-Ray (English)
- Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. The Sword of Justice (English)
- Toyko Magnitude 8.0 DVD/Blu-Ray (English)
- Emma: A Victorian Romance Season 2 Litebox DVD (Japanese)
- Hyakko - Complete Series (Japanese)
- Sweet Blue Flowers - Complete Series (Japanese)
Manga Releases
- A Certain Scientific Railgun Volume 7
- A Devil and Her Love Song Volume 8
- Angel Para Bellum Volume 3
- Barrage Volume 2
- Bleach Volume 56
- Blue Exorcist Volume 9
- Crimson Empire: Circumstances to Serve a Noble Volume 1
- Dance in the Vampire Bund Omnibus Volume 2
- Dance in the Vampire Bund Gaiden: Dive in the Vampire Bund Volume 2
- Dawn of the Arcana Volume 9
- Hana-Kimi Omnibus Volume 4
- Jiu Jiu Volume 4
- Kamisama Kiss Volume 13
- Kanokon Omnibus Volumes 1 and 2
- Kimi no Todoke Volume 16
- Knights of Sidonia Volume 2
- Library Wars: Love and War Volume 9
- My Boyfriend is a Vampire Volumes 7 and 8
- Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan Volume 14
- Pokémon: Black and White Volume 9
- Slam Dunk Volume 27
- Toriko Volume 15
- Wandering Son Volume 4
- Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Volume 4
