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Mar 24 – Site Update - Posted By Hisaishi
Anime News of the Week (3/17 - 3/23)
And Your English Eren Is…
Bryce Papenbrook. Papenbrook, best known as Kirito from Sword Art Online, Rin from Blue Exorcist, and Masaomi Kida from Durarara!!, made his debut at Anime Boston, held this past weekend. Below is the first official trailer for Attack on Titan.
AMD Award Winners Announced
The Association of Media in Digital recognizes the most talked about events of Japanese media within the Internet. The Grand Prize winner was Attack on Titan, noted for its international influence in 2013. Also honored were the online game Kantai Collection, pop idol Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, and the CocoPPa smartphone app. Link
Red Data Girl Dub Cast Announced
FUNimation has announced the cast of 2013’s Red Data Girl. The cast includes Bryn Aprill, Micah Solusod, Caitlin Glass, and Joel McDonald. Expect a June 17th release. Link
Live the Life of Anno
Production company DLE Inc. has announced a new anime based on the marriage of director Hideaki Anno and his wife, manga-ka Moyoco Anno. The source comes from Moyoco’s essay manga, Insufficient Direction. Already set to play the Anno family is Kouichi Yamadera and Megumi Hayashibara, both veterans of the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise. Link
Godzilla Director States Anime Influence
Gareth Edwards, director of the upcoming adaptation of Godzilla, stated in an interview with magazine Popular Mechanics that his film was heavily influenced by Akira. Quote, “whenever we got stuck… we would always thumb through the Akira imagery and suddenly get a wave of excitement or a new direction… It’s just a strong piece of storytelling.” Below is the latest trailer.
Japan in the Throes of Terror
Fresh off the first season of Space Dandy, Shinichiro Watanabe and Yoko Kanno present a series unlike any of their previous works. Terror of Resonance catalogues the events that take place after two masked men bomb the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Desperate for direction in life, three students seek out justice. The series premieres in July.
Space Calls Yet Again
Despite dealing with this new project, Shinichiro Watanabe had time to make the second season of Space Dandy, which premieres in July. This announcement was expected, as producer Studio Bones previously indicated the series would be longer than one season. Link
Class is Back in Session
The anime adaptation of Soul Eater Not! has finally premiered new footage. The animation has been noted for using a more traditional animation style, unlike to the original Soul Eater series, which had an incredibly stylized look. Soul Eater Not! premieres April 8th.
The Enforcers Return
Fuji TV has announced the second season of Psycho-Pass. In addition to the continuation, they have also announced a new edit version of Season 1 and a film in winter. The story follows a police force that is tasked with evaluating the psychological stability of criminals in the near future. Link
Mochi-Crossed Lovers
Based on 2012’s Tamako Market, Kyoto Animation released the first full trailer for Tamako Love Story. The film follows Tamako and Mochizo, the children of two rival mochi shops. Though they won’t admit their attraction, the day when the two will be separated quickly draws near. The film premieres April 26th.
A Feast For The Eyes
Studio 4°C, in collaboration with Toyota, presents the latest title in their Peace Eco Smile series. Toruru’s Adventure is the journey of a young boy tasked with saving his sister. The short film unites four iconic directors including Tatsuya Tanaka (Digital Juice), Sayo Yamamoto (Wooser's Hand-to-Mouth Life), Tomoyuki Niho (Birdy The Mighty: Decode), and Takashi Nakamura (Catnapped! The Movie).
Can You Feel The Love?
Music publisher Lantis has begun streaming the first trailer for Love Live!’s second season. The first season followed a high school caught in a culture clash between three very different districts in Tokyo. When the school was set to set down, nine students formed an idol group, set on making their hopes and dreams come true.
Mama, Put My Guns in the Ground
Takeshi Koike (Redline) has announced a new film in the Lupin the III franchise. Based on 2012’s Lupin the III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine, the film entitled Daisuke Jigen’s Gravestone continues where the series left off, and will recount how characters Lupin and Jigen became partners in crime. The film premieres this summer. Link
Mecha, A History
Thank to diligent efforts by translator Mark Alt, English readers can now fully enjoy "Nihon Animation Guide: Robot Anim-Hen". Written by critic Ryusuke Hikawa, Sunrise Studios cultural promotion head Koichi Inoue, and writer Daisuke Sawai, this 59-page document details mecha’s meteoric rise in popularity since the 1960’s, as well as the renaissance of the 90's and 2000's. Link
FUNimation Files Copyright Suit
FUNimation has filed suit against Anime Haus, an anime goods distributor that sold unlicensed merchandise with rights belonging exclusively to FUNimation. Brian Hilgeford, head of Anime Haus, has ignored all contact since the story broke, but the company’s site is still taking orders. The first hearing is set for July 11. Link
Manga Returns After 15 Years
Sho Makura and Takeshi Okano ended the supernatural comedy series Jigoki Sensei Nube back in 1999. A lot has changed since then, but not the incredible Japanese popularity of the manga, which returns this summer. The story follows Meisuke Nueno, an exorcist with the power of the oni hand, a weapon that purifies evil spirits. Link
And Boom Goes The Dynamite
Junya Inoue’s manga Btooom! will enter the final arc in the next issue. The manga inspired a popular 2012 anime series. The story follows Sakamoto, a NEET with a penchant for the online combat game Btooom! Waking up one day on a tropical island, he finds himself caught in a life or death version of his favorite hobby. Link
The End of the World
The original manga of the wildly popular series The World God Only Knows will end in its next volume. Written by Tamiki Wakaki, it follows Keima Katsuragi, a master of dating sim games. His skills catch the eye of the demon Elsie, who tasks him to find errant souls who possessed the women of Tokyo. Link
Producer Leaves in the Night
Koji Igarashi, producer of the Castlevania series since 1997, has left Konami in the hopes of starting a new studio. He does so with a heavy heart but assures fans this was done to guarantee having more creative control over new projects. Link
Relive the Epic Tale
In releasing the remastered version of Final Fantasy X|X-2, Square Enix have presented a trailer that details the epic story of Tidus and Yuna. According to a statement made by Square Enix, the game features remastered visuals and music, trophies, cross-save compatibility, and a new "International Edition" for English territories, which features content that was exclusive in Japan.
Tokyo Olympics Has A Face
Yasushi Akimoto, producer for the group AKB48, has been handpicked to direct and create Japan’s Opening Ceremony for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. He recounted his memories of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and promised to recreate the same atmosphere for this generation. Akimoto joins several other big names including Toyota Corporation president Akio Toyoda in the games committee. Link
Anime Premiere
- keroro (Animax)
Anime Releases
- Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic - Set 2 DVD (English)
- Upotte!! - Complete Collection DVD/Blu-Ray (English)
- Evangelion 3.22: You Can (Not) Redo) - Film DVD/Blu-Ray (Australia Release)
- Monster - Part 3 DVD (Australia Release)
- To Love Ru - Complete Collection Blu-Ray (Japanese)
Manga Releases
- Dance in the Vampire Bund: The Memories of Sledgehammer Volume 2
- Genshiken: Second Season Volume 4
- March Story Volume 5
- Mayo Chiki!! Volume 5
- UQ Holder! Volume 1
Video Game Releases
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- orderlands 2 (VITA) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Cloudbuilt (PC) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Deus Ex: The Fall (PC) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Final Fantasy X|X-2 HD (PS3) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Final Fantasy x|X-2 HD Remaster (PS3/VITA) (USA/EU/AUS)
- inFamous: Second Son (PS4) (USA/EU/AUS)
- J-Stars Victory Vs. (PS3/VITA) (JPN)
- Luftrausers (PS3/PC/VITA) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Man of War: Assault Squad 2 (PC) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (PS3/360/PS4/ONE) (USA/EU/AUS)
- SteamWorld Dig (PS4/VITA) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z (360) (USA/EU/AUS)
