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Mar 12 – Otaku Madness - Posted By Hisaishi
Anime News of the Week (3/3 - 3/9)
Toshio Suzuki Leaves Producer Job
Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki announced his retirement as film producer. He will remain with the company as a manager. In his stead, relative newcomer Yoshiaki Nishimura will be the producer of all future films. Suzuki was an editor for Animage magazine when he met Hayao Miyazaki in 1984. A year later, they founded Studio Ghibli, along with director Isao Takahata. Link
The Wind Rises Joins American Upper Echelon
In its third weekend in American theaters, The Wind Rises increased the grand total of income to $3,317,000; this makes it the tenth highest grossing anime film in American history. The record still stands at an incredible $85,744,662 with the 1999 film Pokémon: The First Movie. Link
Before the War of Man and Beast
In a final bit of Ghibli news, Viz Media has acquired the rights to a Hayao Miyazaki publication. The title, Princess Mononoke: The First Story, is a 1980 story that served as inspiration for the 1997 film. Included are Miyazaki’s trademark watercolor illustrations. Link
Pokémon Merchandise for Tsunami Relief
It has been three years since the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami ravaged the Japanese landscape. As reconstruction is still a major issue, Pokémon is offering unique items at the Tokyo Pokémon Center. The line, called “To a Flower-Blooming Tomorrow," will aid continuing efforts with a sense of optimism and hope. Link
The Origin of an Icon
The official Doraemon website has premiered the first trailer for the 36th film in the franchise. Doraemon: Stand By Me is the first 3D CGI title that the cat will be in and returns to the very beginning of a 44-year legacy.
When Legends Collide
The seventeenth Pokémon film has released its latest trailer. Pokémon X/Y: The Cocoon of Destruction is the first film of the X/Y generation. It features the ongoing war between Xerneas and Yvetal, as well as the premiere of Diancie.
Fall in Love All Over Again
With the completion of her manga Millennium Snow, Bisco Hatori (Ouran High School Host Club) has officially announced the debut of a new manga. The title arrives this summer. Her masterpiece Ouran High School Host Club ended back in 2012 after nine years. Link
Mangaka Behind The Scenes
Harold Sakuishi (BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad) released a video that shows he is hard at work with RiN, his latest title. The video also advertises the release of the fifth volume
Former CAPCOM Artist Premieres New Game
Kenji Inafune, a man responsible for illustrating the Mega Man, Dead Rising, and Onimusha franchises, let CAPCOM in 2010. He returns under developer Inti Creates to release Azure Striker Gunvolt, the story of a rebel psychic bent on uncovering the truth behind a mega-corporation.
Sunny Wins Slate’s Cartoonist Studio Prize
The Slate Book Review honored Taiyo Mutsumoto’s Sunny as the Best Graphic Novel of 2013. It was noted for its “beautifully drawn and uniquely skewed” take on Japanese orphanages. It joins Chris Ware’s Building Stories, which won the first ever award Cartoonist Studio Prize in 2012 in the Graphic Novel category. The Best Web Comic of 2013 went to Emily Carroll’s Out of Skin. Link
Music Legends Receive Live Film Treatment
The two day concert of L’Arc~en~Ciel at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium will be broadcast in ten U.S. cities on March 22. The delayed broadcast has begun selling tickets at $20. This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the major label debut of the band. Link
The Sheep Released To Pasture
Kodansha Evening has announced the end of Sheep Tree, a manga created by Tatsuhiko Yamagami and Mikio Igarashi. The manga told of a government project where convicts are shipped to a former seaport town to live among unaware citizenry. Link
Anime Central To Host Nobuo Uematsu Concert
Anime convention Anime Central in Rosemont, IL has announced “A New World: Intimate Music from FINAL FANTASY”, a touring concert series. The show features Nobuo Uematsu, composer of the Final Fantasy series, and Grammy award-winning music director Arnie Roth. Anime Central runs May 16-18. Link
Hello Kitty Gets In the Ring and the…Penthouse?
With Hello Kitty’s 40th anniversary under way, we take a look at two of the strangest merchandise collaborations the icon has chosen to celebrate. First, a series of T-shirts celebrates both Kitty and the New Japan Pro-Wrestling League. Secondly, a massive amount of Hello KittyxPlayboy (celebrating it’s 60th anniversary), courtesy of French retailer Collette. Link 1 Link 2
Teach Them While They're Young
To those who just so happen to be a ninja, there is good news for a job opportunity. The Japanese employment service HelloWork has posted help wanted ads in the Nagoya area. The job is to teach elementary school children in the basics of ninjutsu. The offer lasts until April 30. link
Anime Premieres
- Cardfight!! Vanguard: Legion Mate-Hen
- Nandaka Velonica
- Wasimo
Anime Releases
- Dragon Ball Z - Season 2 Blu-Ray (English)
- Maria Holic - Complete Collection DVD/Blu-Ray (English)
- Nadia: The Secret of the Blue Water - Complete Collection DVD/Blu-Ray (English)
- One Piece - Season 5 Part 6 DVD (English)
- The Galaxy Railways - The Complete Series [S.A.V.E Edition] DVD (English)
- Aria The Natural - Collection Part 2 [Litebox Edition] DVD (Japanese)
- Casshan - Complete Collection DVD/Blu-Ray (Japanese)
- Myself; Yourself - Complete Collection DVD (Japanese)
- Space Adventure Cobra - Part 1 DVD (Japanese)
Manga Releases
- Alice in the Country of Clover: March's Hare Volume 1
- Black Bird Volume 18
- Blue Exorcist Volume 11
- D.Gray Man [3-in-1 Edition] Volume 3
- Dragon Ball [3-i -Edition] Volume 4
- From the New World Volume 3
- Fushigi Yūgi: Genbu Kaiden Volume 12
- Haganai: I don't have many friends Volume 6
- Nijigahara Holograph Volume 1
- Nisekoi: False Love - Zawsze in Love Volume 2
- One Piece Volume 70
- Oresama Teacher Volume 16
- Phantom Thief Jeanne Volume 1
- Pokémon Adventures Ruby and Sapphire Volume 21
- Pokémon Adventures Black and White Volume 3
- Psyren Volume 15
- RIN-NE Volume 14
- Senran Kagura: Skirting Shadows Volume 2
- Skip Beat! [Omnibus] Volume7
- Strobe Edge Volume 9
- Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee Volume 16
- The Scared Blacksmith Volume 4
Video Game Releases
- Awesomenauts (PS4) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Dead Nation: Apocalypse Edition (PS4) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Infested Planet (PC) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Pacman and the Ghostly Adventures (PS3/360/WIIU/PC/3DS) (USA/EU/AUS)
- South Park: The Stick of Truth (PS3/360/PC) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z (PS3/PC) (USA)
