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May 01 – Anime - Posted By Hisaishi
Anime News of the Week (4/21 - 4/27)
Oldest Known Ichikawa Short Uncovered
The Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences in Beverly Hills, CA have announced the discovery of a missing film in their files. The 1935 work, Cowardly Samurai Squad, is believed to be the oldest work of the late director Kon Ichikawa (Tokyo Olympiad, The Burmese Harp). It is five minutes long and the third in a trilogy of shorts featuring the character Dangonosuke. Link
Attack on Titan Reaches Colossal Milestone
Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan can now officially rest in the upper echelon of manga history. According to Oricon, it is the third manga to sell thirty million copies since they began calculations in 2009. It joins the ranks of Naruto and One Piece, the latter of which sold a record 130 million since 2009. Link
Japanese Diet Looks to Curb Illegal Distribution
The Japanese Diet is currently in session and several bills have been presented. One such bill would allow publishers to take legal action on behalf of copyright holders. This includes filing suit against scanlators, illicit filesharers, and other peoples who distribute copyrighted material illegally online. Crimes of such nature currently carry a ten-year sentence in Japan. Link
K-ON! Film Reel Leads To Sentencing
As an example of unorthodox illegal distribution, police have arrested a former projectionist in a sting operation. The suspect allegedly stole the reels to the 2011 K-ON! film trailers and cut the filmstrips individually, auctioning them online without express consent. If convicted, he violates Japan’s Copyright Law, and could face a lengthy prison sentence. Link
Tezuka On Stage
Osamu “The God of Manga” Tezuka has had an incredible history even after his passing in 1989. Chalk a stage musical among those accolades. Two of his manga, Faust and Hyaku Monogatari, have been adapted and will receive a theatrical run at the AiiA Theater in Tokyo, June 27th – July 7th. The two manga are based on Goethe’s classic stage play about man's temptation and the deal with the devil. Link
Miyazaki vs. Marnie
Hayao Miyazaki, a man known to speak his mind, has now criticized the company he co-founded, Studio Ghibli, for its promotion of the upcoming film When Marnie Was Here. Miyazaki was quoted saying the use of a singular blond child (the titular Marnie) on a film poster is “just plain outdated and cheesy”. Link
Code:Breaker English Trailer Streamed
Last week, we told you of the English cast that FUNimation selected for 2012’s Code:Breaker. This week, they show the fruit of their labors in the first evidence of the English dub.
Jumping the Rails
The first trailer for the upcoming anime Rail Wars! has been streamed. The directorial premiere of Yoshifumi Sueda, the anime tells of an alternate reality where the Japanese rail system was not privatized. Student Naohito Takayama joins the Railways Security Force only days before an extremist group seeks to seize control. The anime premieres this summer.
The Hunt is Back On!
After a two year hiatus, Yoshihiro Tagashi has announced the return of his long-running series Hunter X Hunter. The manga will officially resume in June and will be released in The United States the same time as the Japanese release. Link
Welcome to Ouran University
Manga-ka Bisco Hatori, best known for her long-running series Ouran High School Host Club, has revealed her newest project. Urakata!! is the life of Ranmaru, a college freshman whose outlook on life is dismal. Upon chance, he meets a mysterious group who looks to give him the enthusiasm and hope he needs. Urakata!! premieres on May 24. Link
The Unleashing of Hellfire
Rurouni Kenshin creator Nobuhiro Watsuki has announced a new manga series in the franchise. Titled Record of Evil, the story pays witness to the life of Shishio Makoto, and how he came to be the fire wielding demon of the original series. In exchange, Watsuki’s current series Enbalming will enter a hiatus until fall. Link
American Genius As Manga
Mangaka-ka duo Ume (Tokyo Toybox) has announced a new manga to appear in the magazine Big Comic Superior. Steves follows the careers of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak and their technology juggernaut Apple. Jobs was previously honored with a manga created by Mari Yamazaki (Thermae Romae), based on Walter Isaacson’s 2011 biography. Link
Magic Managed
The manga-ka known as Mochi has launched a new manga in the magazine Shonen Gangan. The Witch’s Manservant and the Devil’s Horn follows a manservant who, at the request of his witch master, sets on a journey to find the horn of a devil. Mochi is best known for Cuticle Detective Inaba, which was adapted into a 2012 anime. Link
The Path of the Monk
Manga-ka Mari Okizaki (Suppli) announced her newest work with the Big Comic Spirits magazine. A-Un follows the lives of Saichō and Kūkai, two Buddhist monks who established the religion in Japan during the Heian period by building two temples around the same time. The series begins May 27th. Link
When The Heart Breaks
It has been announced that the 23rd volume of Jun Mochizuki’s series Pandora Hearts will be the last. Since 2006, the story followed Oz Vessalius and his friend Alice as they navigated by fate an abyssal world that marked them sinners for no apparent reason. The popular series was made into a 2009 anime. Link
Fall of a Kingdom
Manga-ka Chitose Yagami has announced the end of her ongoing series Oresama Kingdom. Launched in Ciao Magazine around 2009, the story centered on Nono Nonohara, whose life as a manga artist in a new school is made all the more better by her new classmates. Link
From Comedy to Clobbering
Anime director Tsutomu Mizushima (Dokoro-Chan, Squid Chan, Girls und Panzer) has taken on a plethora of various topics over the years. However, he has his sights on creating a pro wrestling anime. Quotes from his Twitter stated he wants the hypothetical series to appeal to fans and non-fans, while remaining true to the spirit of the sport. No guarantees have been made. Link
News Frames of Mind
The 2001 cult horror video game Fatal Frame: Project Zero is abuzz with new activity. A live-action film by director Mari Asato (Biolocation) has been announced, an American version is beginning to take shape after being stuck in development hell for nearly five years, and a port to the Wii U is expected to surface in the near future.
The Dawn of Justice
CAPCOM has revealed the first trailer for the newest Ace Attorney game. Advertised as a canon spin-off and being advised by series creator Shu Takumi, Great Turnabout Trial: The Adventures of Ryūnosuke Naruhodō will take the series to the end of the Meiji era, where the ancestor of Phoenix Wright will aid in creating a new court system following the changes of Japanese law.
Akatsuki Rising
Namco Bandai began streaming a new trailer for the latest game in the Naruto video game series. Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution will feature supervision from series creator Masashi Kishimoto, a Story Mode that follows the birth of the Akatsuki, a 100+ character roster, and a massive 4-on-4 Tournament mode. The games drops this September.
Moon Vinyl Power!
The 20th anniversary of Sailor Moon gets more news. The music tribute released last month will be reprinted in a series of collectable vinyls, featuring artwork from the original creator Naoko Takeuchi. The CD is currently available via iTunes. Link
EVA Unit 01, Roll Out!
In a crossover conceived by toy manufacturer Takara Tomy, two legendary robots will combine to defeat a common enemy. Ladies and gentlemen, witness the glory that occurs when Neon Genesis Evangelion meets Transformers. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-04-24/takara-tomy-planning-transformers-x-evangelion-crossover
Dance Dance no Kyojin
Attack on Titan has reached fever pitch levels of hype. No one’s denying that. Especially one dance crew at the Ultimate Brawl XIV in Riverside, CA. The independent troupe known as "Survey Corps" implemented a routine featuring sword choreography, a colossal titan, and even references to TeamFourStar’s parody. The routine, unfortunately, did not medal.
Anime Premieres
*Note: Anime are listed with their primary streaming services
- M3 the dark metal (Daisuki)
- Wild Adapter
Anime Releases
- Eureka Seven - Part 1 DVD/Blu-Ray (English)
- Eureka Seven - Part 1 [Limited Edition] Blu-Ray (English)
- Eureka Seven - Part 2 DVD/Blu-Ray (English)
- Eureka Seven: Good Night, Sleep Tight, Young Lovers - Film Blu-Ray (English)
- Hidamari Sketch x 365 - Complete Collection Blu-Ray (English)
- Little Busters! - Collection 2 DVD/Blu-Ray (English)
- Monster - Part 4 DVD (Australia Release)
- Nekomonogatari Black - Tsubasa Family Arc [Limited Edition] Blu-Ray (Japanese)
- Star Blazers 2199 - Part 2 DVD/Blu-Ray (Japanese)
Manga Releases
- Animal Land Volume 9
- Bride of the Water God Volume 15
- Bunny Drop Volume 10
- Higurashi: When They Cry - Festival Accompanying Arc 4 Volume 25
- Inu x Boku SS Volume 3
- No Matter How I Look at It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular! Volume 3
- The Flowers of Evil Volume 9
- Umineko: When They Cry - Banquet of the Golden Witch Part 2 Volume 6
Video Game Releases
- Betrayer (PC) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Castlevania: Lord of Shadows - Mirror of Fate HD (PC) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Deception IV: Blood Ties (PS3) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Destiny of Spirits (VITA) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Diablo III: Reaper of Souls (PS3/PS4/360/PC) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Ether ONE (PC) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Fez (PS3/PS4/VITA) (USA/EU/AUS)
- inFamous: Second Son (PS4) (USA/EU/AUS)
- MXGP: The Official Motocross Game (PS3/360/PC/VITA) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Pier Solar (PC) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Quest of Dungeons (PC) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Sly Collection (VITA) (USA)
- The Witch and The One Hundred Knights (PS3) (USA/EU/AUS)
- Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z (360) (USA/EU/AUS)
