Tuesday March 11th, 2008
Crystal Blaze Trailer Online
The official Japanese homepage for the upcoming Crystal Blaze action anime television series now links to a streaming trailer. The series is scheduled to premier next month.
New Tower of Druaga Trailer Online
The official Japanese homepage for Gonzo's upcoming Tower of Druaga: The Aegis of Uruk anime television series now hosts a new, second promotional video. Click the "PV2" button to watch the new trailer. The fantasy anime series will premier on Japanese TV and Gyao website (for Japanese viewers only) on April 4th.
New Amuri Trailer Released
The official website for the long in development CG anime OVA series Hoshi no Umi no Amuri ~ Amuri in Star Ocean now hosts a streaming trailer in high and low resolution. Promotional footage from the bishoujo sci-fi adventure created by Yoshitomo Yonetani, the director of Gaogaiger & Betterman, first appeared online in September 2007. The first Amuri in Star Ocean OVA is scheduled for Japanese release on May 23.Amuri in Star Ocean is not related to Square Enix's series of Star Ocean RPGs in any way. The similarity of the titles is entirely coincidental.
Gotham Knight Website Opened
The official homepage for the upcoming American/Japanese Batman: Gotham Knight animated anthology film is now open. Japanese directors Shojiro Nishimi, Futoshi Higashide, Hiroshi Morioka, Yasuhiro Aoki and Toshiyuki Kubooka from anime studios 4°C, Production I.G., and Madhouse all contribute to the production. The Batman: Gotham Knight movie will be released on July 8th.
DrMaster Acquires New Titles
DrMaster has formally announced its acquisition of translation rights to Rei Kusakabe's supernatural manga series Nephylym and Haruka Shouji's Feng Shui Academy manga, based on Midori Natsu's Fuu Sui Gakuen novels. The first volume of Nephylym will be released in September. Feng Shui Academy will debut next year.
Viz Reveals New Acquisitions
Viz Media has scheduled the domestic release of three manga titles not previously announced.Akihisa Ikeda's Rosario + Vampire supernatural romantic comedy will debut on May 13th and retail at $9.99.Youzaburou Kanari's action/adventure manga series Gimmick! will debut on June 10th and retail at $9.99.Kazuo Umezu's classic horror manga series Cat Eyed Boy will debut on June 17th in a $24.99 volume.
Moyoco Anno Halts Work
Best selling manga artist Moyoco Anno, the creator of titles including Flowers and Bees, Happy Mania, Sugar Sugar Rune, and Hataraki Man, has announced that she'll be taking an extended break from active work as an artist due to concerns about her health. Anno states that she still wants to draw manga and hopes her readers will follow her work if or when she returns.
Wednesday March 12th, 2008
TOKYOPOP Acquires Castlevania Manga
TOKYOPOP has revealed plans to publish an English translation of Kou Sasakura's two volume "Castlevania: Curse of Darkness" manga series adaptation of Konami's popular video game franchise. The first volume will be released in September.
Crunchyroll Secures 4 Million Dollar Investment by Illegally Distributing Anime
Websites including Dealipedia and the Private Equity Hub have reported that Venture capital firm Venrock has invested $4.05 million into the San-Francisco based Crunchyroll, Inc. video streaming website. The management of the Crunchyroll site uploads and provides a large amount of subtitled anime and Asian live action programing without authorization from the legal copyright owners of the programing or the consent of the translators responsible for subtitling the programing. Crunchyroll's video programing is accessible free in low quality. The site charges membership fees for access to high quality video streams.Crunchyroll reportedly does host a small amount of Asian video programing with official authorization from copyright owners and reportedly "intends to work directly with 'a select number of Japanese firms' to acquire content legally."
Thursday March 13th, 2008
Real Drive Trailer Online
The official Japanese homepage for the upcoming RD Senno Chosashitsu anime television series, commonly known as "Real Drive," now hosts a streaming trailer. The futuristic mystery series is a co-creation from Production IG and manga artist Masamune Shirow. The series premieres in Japan on April 8.
TOKYOPOP Acquires Phantom Dream, Offers Fruits Basket Free Online
TOKYOPOP has acquired the domestic translation rights to Fruits Basket creator Natsuki Takaya's first published manga series "Phantom Dream" ("Geneimuso").To promote next week's official domestic release of Fruits Basket manga volume 19, the TOKYOPOP website will release the entire book online for free tomorrow evening. The catch is that the book will be available online for only 19 minutes beginning at 19:19 ET (7:19 PM Eastern Time).
Live Action Adaptation of Cat Street Announced
Bessatsu Margaret Magazine has formally announced the development of a live action television series adaptation of Yoko Kamio's 2005 dramatic school life manga series Cat Street. The television series will air on the NHK television network this summer."The story revolves around Keito Aoyama, a 16-year-old former child actress who stopped acting after a traumatic incident. She has closed herself off from the rest of the world for years — until she enters a school for 'stray cats,' or outsiders like herself."
Friday March 14th, 2008
Monochrome Factor Teaser Trailer Online
The official Japanese homepage for the upcoming Monochrome Factor anime television series, based on Kaili Sorano's supernatural action manga series, now hosts a short streaming teaser trailer. The anime series is scheduled to premier on April 7th.
Fist of the North Star 25th Anniversary Projects Announced
To commemorate this year's 25th anniversary of the beloved Hokuto no Ken (Fist of the North Star) franchise, three new projects have been announced.An official website has opened to announce the Hokuto no Ken: Raoh Gaiden ~ Ten no Haoh (Fist of the North Star: Raoh Side Story ~ King of Heaven) anime television series. The new anime will debut this fall, along with the "Kenshiro Densetsu" motion picture - the final film of the "New Saviour Legend" anime series that began in 2006. The "Ten no Haoh" anime will be based on Youkow Osada's 2006 manga series spin-off from Buronson and Tetsuo Hara's original Hokuto no Ken manga. Ten no Haoh details the early life of popular Fist of the North Star antagonist Raoh.Satoshi Fumihara and the other creators behind The World of GOLDEN EGGS anime series will collaborate on the production of DD Hokuto no Ken, a super deformed "gag anime" parody of Hokuto no Ken.The Muscle Musical performance art group inspired by Hokuto no Ken will also collaborate on a project to commemorate the Hokuto no Ken franchise's anniversary.
Bus Gamer Teaser Trailer Online
Animate.tv now hosts a short streaming trailer for the new Bus Gamer anime television series based on Kazuya Minekura's manga. The trailer, available for narrowband and broadband connections, does not contain any footage from the anime TV series, which is scheduled to premier on the 14th.
TOKYOPOP Acquires Goth
TOKYOPOP has acquired distribution rights to Otsu-ichi's mystery novel Goth and its one-volume manga adaptation created by Kendi Ohishi. Fox Atomic has hired video game writer J.T. Petty to adapt and direct an American live action film adaptation of the Goth novel about two "goth" teens that partner to solve six murders in their hometown.The Goth manga adaptation will hit shelves in September with an 18+ age rating and a $10.99 retail price. The original novel will retail at $12.99 beginning in October.
Posted By: Nightroad
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Anime News
Boy Dies Trying A Move From Naruto
Boy dies in hospital
According to KOMO-TV, the ABC affiliate in Seattle, Washington, 10-year-old Codey Porter died at 3:35 p.m PST today. The boy was hospitalized on Saturday after suffering respiratory failure when he was buried, headfirst, in a sandbox. He had reportedly asked his playmates to bury him in order to recreate the attacks used by the fictional ninja from the Naruto anime's fictional Village Hidden in the Sand.
Porter had been resuscitated with CPR and taken to an Everett hospital and later transferred to the Children's Hospital in Seattle where he died.
A memorial fund has been set up for Porter on the Gold Creek Community Church's Web site.
I think this is a very depressing incident, but I think a lot of people who will believe that its the shows fault will try to get it out of the U.S.
Posted By: Nightroad
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Anime News
Monday March 3rd, 2008
AnimeWho Announces Ashita no Joe OVA Release
AnimeWho, a new mainstream American anime distribution label from adult anime distributor JapanAnime, has announced plans to release the 2003 "Joe vs. Joe" (Futari no Joe) OVA series on domestic DVD. The six episode boxing anime, based on the classic 1970 Ashita no Joe television series, will be released on two bilingual domestic DVDs retailing at $24.99 each. Volume 1 will go on sale April 29th.
Gurren Lagann Movie Announced
Advance details on this month's Tokyo International Anime Fair reveal that the April issue of Kadokawa Shoten's Newtype Magazine, which goes on sale in Japan on the 10th, will formally announce development of a Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann motion picture.
Hakushaku to Yosei Anime Announced
Shueisha's Cobalt Books imprint has formally announced that Mizue Tani's series of "Hakushaku to Yosei" (The Count and The Fairy) historical fantasy novels will be adapted into an anime television series.The novels follow the travels of 17 year old Lydia Carlton and young Count Edgar J.C. Ashenheart through Victorian England.
Trailer for Shina Dark Promotional DVD Online
Japanese publisher MediaWorks now hosts a webpage promoting the upcoming release of a Shina Dark anime promtional DVD. A Shina Dark music video collection DVD will be included as a limited edition premium with copies of the third volume of Bunjuro Nakayama and Yukari Higa's Shina Dark manga series, scheduled to go on sale on March 21st. The MediaWorks page hosts a streaming 90 second trailer promoting the limited edition music video DVD.An anime television series adaptation of the Shina Dark fantasy comedy manga series is now in production.
Suzuki Toshio Interview Online
Fan site Ghibli World has published a summarized transcript of a Japanese interview with Studio Ghibli producer Suzuki Toshio regarding Hayao Miyazaki's work on his upcoming film Ponyo on a Cliff.
Cartoon Network To Air Blue Dragon
Viz Media has announced that the 2007 Blue Dragon anime television series, inspired by the Xbox 360 RPG, will air on the Cartoon Network this spring.
Tuesday March 4th, 2008
Stan Lee to Co-Create New Manga
Shueisha's Jump Square Magazine has formally announced that living legend American comic book creator Stan Lee, the co-creator of Spider-Man and the X-Men, will collaborate with Shaman King creator Hiroyuki Takei on the development of an original manga short story to launch the Jump SQ.II (Jump Square Second) magazine. The first issue of Jump SQ.II will go on sale in Japan on April 18th.
Wednesday March 5th, 2008
Appleseed TV Series Announced
The homepage for this month's Tokyo International Anime Fair has revealed that a press event scheduled for March 30 at the convention will host the formal public announcement of development of Appleseed Genesis, a 3D CG anime television series to be directed by respected CG animator Romanov Higa (Catblue Dynamite, Urda). The Appleseed TV series will be Romanov Higa's second CG anime adaptation of manga by Masamune Shirow following the 2006 OVA Tank Police Dominion Tank S.W.A.T. 01.
Titania Anime Announced
Hiroaki Adachi, the manager of Wright Staff, the company that manages the business affairs of author Yoshiki Tanaka, has revealed that Tanaka's three volume series of Titania science fiction novels will be adapted into anime. Yoshiki Tanaka is the author of the Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Sohryuden, Heroic Legend of Arslan, and Ryoko's Case File novel series, all of which have been adapted into anime.
Udon Opens Street Fighter Art Contest
Udon Comics has launched a "Street Fighter Tribute" art contest to collect original fan art to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Capcom's beloved fighting game franchise. Winning submissions will be published in Udon's upcoming original "Street Fighter Tribute" art collection book, scheduled for release on July 23. Visit the Udon Blog for full submission details.
First American Death Note Movie Trailer Released
Fangoria Magazine now hosts the first trailer for the official American release of the first live action Death Note motion picture. The trailer includes English dubbed dialogue, but the film will be released in America in its original Japanese language with English subtitles. Both Death Note live action movies are presently in limited American theatrical release. An American DVD release is planned for later this year.
Thursday March 6th, 2008
IFC to Air Speed Grapher
The Speed Grapher anime television series will begin airing on the Independent Film Channel on March 7 at 11 PM Eastern.
Live Action Adaptation of Tokyo Ghost Trip Announced
An official Japanese website has opened to announce the April premier of a live action television adaptation of Hashiba Maki's supernatural manga series Tokyo Ghost Trip. The manga story revolves around two cousins, one of whom can summon spirits, and one that doesn't believe in the supernatural, who must rely on their religious/supernatural background to earn a living.
Disney to Work With Japanese Anime Studios
The Walt Disney Company has announced plans to work with Japanese anime studios to develop new animated programming for Japanese television broadcast. Disney will collaborate with Madhouse on the production of a new, original anime series titled "Stitch!", based on the Lilo and Stitch franchise.Disney is also developing "Fireball," a 3D CG sci-fi gag comedy short film, for Japanese release.The Disney-Toei produced project "Robodies," initially announced in 2006 as a television series, has reportedly developed into a short film that will air on Japan's Disney Channel this summer.
Posted By: Nightroad
Monday, March 3, 2008
Air Gear
If your reading this that means your reading the first Hey Hey Anime review ever. So YAY!!!!(confetti falls to the floor) And this must really be your lucky day cuz this is a 2 in 1 review. Today I am reviewing Air Gear both the anime and manga.
Now we have a 5 star rating system it goes as follows:
1 star= SHIT
2 star= POLISHED SHIT
3 star= WOULDN'T BUY IT, BUT IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS IT CHECK IT OUT.
4 star= THIS SOME GOOD SHIT
5 star= FUCKIN AWESOME
So lets start with the anime. Air Gear tells the story Itsuki "Babyface" Minami a high school student who at the beginning of the series is the leader of a gang called the East Side Gunz. And he is considered very strong by his classmates, but one day he gets his ass kicked a storm rider gang called the Skull Saders. Now storm riders are people who ride these things called ATs. Which are motorized skates that allow them to pull off cool ass tricks. So after Ikki gets his ass kicked, and gets firecrackers shoved up his ass, he goes home where he lives with four girls who without out his knowledge are a big storm rider team called the Sleeping Forest. While at home he finds these tapes on storm riding and becomes smithin by it, and decides to become one. And after that the story just follows him trying to be one and making a team. Now before I go into what I think of it if you plan on watching it don't watch the sub version before the dub. Cuz you will be disappointed in the voice casting for Agito(once you watch it you'll know who I'm talking about). So this anime is one of my favorites, it has everything I enjoy in an anime action, fighting, a excellent storyline, a little drama, and hot girls. In fact I have had fantasy's of being a storm rider. But besides that it does have it's flaws. Like the fact the series just cuts off I mean the manga has way more story after that. I was VERY disappointed because of that, and because of that and Agito's voice I'm giving this a 4 star review.
Now it's time for the manga. Same basic storyline but with a little more story to it. And a feature I really like they have notes at the back of the book like AT designs and how to make a AT. I'm on volume 5 and so far I really like it. So Air Gear the manga for not just stopping and not having the annoying Agito voice it gets a 5 star review.
Show Notes:
Air Gear
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Gear
http://www.airgeartv.com/
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/catalog/results.pperl?title=air%20gear
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6251
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=4164
Posted By: Nightroad
'Dexter' Videogame Coming
"Dexter is the extremely rare TV show with enough layers of action and tension to translate perfectly into a compelling videogame," said Marc Fernandez, Vice President of Marc Ecko Entertainment. "Our game designers, writers, and artists are going to give Dexter's morally complex world the kind of interactivity that gamers will love."
No more details are available now, but we'll let you know when we know!
You Got Halo In My Lego
Big Week For Gaming
I'm opening up a Ice Cream Shop this week and I know Baskin Robins has 36 flavors, but I have 25 flavors of video games so whats yo flava.
Legends of Norrath: Inquisitor - PC
Rocketmen: Axis of Evil - XBox 360
Anno 1701: Dawn of Discovery - DS
Eco Creatures: Save the Forest - DS
God of War: Chains of Olympus - PSP
Ninja Reflex - WII, DS
Chicken Hunter - DS
Pet Shop - DS
Imagine Figure Skater - DS
Petz Bunnyz - DS
Mysterious Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer - DS
MLB 08: The Show - PSP, PS3, PS2
Imperium Romanum - PC
Bully: Scholarship Edition - X360, Wii
Army of Two - X360, PS3
Silent Hill: Origins - PS2
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War: Soulstorm - PC
Major League Baseball 2K8 - X360, PS3, PS2, Wii, PSP
Let's Ride: Friends Forever - DS
Arctic Stud Poker Run - PC
Galactic Command - Echo Squad - PC
Tom Clancy's Chronicles - PC
Field Ops - PC
Stranger - PC
Mysteryville 2 - PC
Posted By: Nightroad
Looks Like Size Does Matter
According to Famitsu, Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima said the 50 Gig Blu-Ray discs that PS3 games are packed on are just too small to contain the genius of Metal Gear Solid 4.
Kojima said "There's not enough space. We always talked about where to cut and what to compress."
Other than the Japanese voice track, I wonder what we're missing.
Posted By: Nightroad
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Anime News
Monday February 25th, 2008
New Sky Crawlers Trailer Released
The official homepage for director Mamoru Oshii's upcoming anime film The Sky Crawlers now hosts a new, second teaser trailer. The motion picture is scheduled to open in Japan on August 2nd.
Wagaya no Oinarisama Trailer Online
The Japanese Newtype Magazine homepage now hosts a streaming Flash trailer for the "Wagaya no Revolution" promotional DVD that advertises the upcoming Wagaya no Oinarisama anime television series. The promotional video will be accessible until the 29th. The television series is scheduled to premier in April.
Tuesday February 26th, 2008
Bandai Visual USA to Release Sola
Bandai Visual USA has revealed plans for an American release of the thirteen episode 2007 television series Sola. The first DVD volume will hit American shelves on June 10th.
New School Rumble Anime Announced
Kodansha's official Japanese School Rumble website has announced that the upcoming Japanese School Rumble manga volumes 21 & 22 will be released in limited edition versions including bonus DVDs. Each DVD will contain one new School Rumble Third Year OVA.
Blood+ to Receive Increased Exposure
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has revealed plans to promote the upcoming domestic DVD release of the Blood+ anime television series by including the anime series' first episode as a bonus feature on the DVD release of hit live action vampire movie 30 Days of Night, and on the DVD edition of the live action horror film Loch Ness Terror, due out on DVD on April 15th. The Blood+ anime series will debut on American DVD on March 4th.
Wednesday February 27th, 2008
Trigun Movie Planned for 2009
According to the Japanese Moon Phase message board, the advertising "obi" on the freshly released Japanese Trigun Maximum volume 14 manga includes a confirmation that "Trigun the Movie," an original story motion picture promising "Vash vs Wolfwood!?" will hit Japanese theaters next year. The movie will be animated by Madhouse, directed by Trigun television series director Satoshi Nishimura, and written by Yasuko Kobayashi, the screenwriter of the Gilgamesh and Guyver TV series.
Infinity Studios Switching to Ebooks
Domestic manga and manhwa publisher Infinity Studios has announced plans to begin releasing all future titles in commercial ebook format beginning March 1st. Select unfinished catalog titles will be revived for continued release in ebook format. "A few titles" will also be released in printed "hard copy" book format.
Thursday February 28th, 2008
Mnemosyne Episode 2 Trailer Online
The "Outline" section of the Mnemosyne anime series homepage now hosts a 3:19 streaming trailer for the six episode series' second episode, which is scheduled to air on March 2nd. Please note that the trailer contains graphic, adult oriented imagery.
New Slayers Anime Announced
The April issue of Japan's Dragon Magazine has formally announced development of a new Slayers anime television series. The primary animators of studio J.C. Staff that developed the first three Slayers anime television series will work on the new, original story, but whether any of the characters from the previous Slayers anime will appear in the new series has not been revealed yet. The new anime is planned for two seasons (roughly 52 episodes) beginning in May.
Antique Bakery Anime to Premier in July
A 12 episode anime adaptation of Fumi Yoshinaga's romantic comedy manga series Antique Bakery (Seiyou Kotto Yougashiten) will air as part of Fuji Television's ongoing "Noitamina" series of late night anime series beginning this July. The bestselling manga about a quaint bakery run by four young men was originally published from 1999 to 2002 and was adapted into a live action television series in 2001. The manga series is distributed in English by Digital Manga.
New Anime Series Websites Opened
Official Japanese websites for the upcoming Golgo 13, Himitsu ~Top Secret~, Zettai Karin Children television series have opened. And the official xxxHOLiC anime TV series homepage has updated to promote the April premier of the xxxHOLiC Kei anime television series.
Friday February 29th, 2008
Bandai Visual to Offer Free Episodes Online
Bandai Visual has formally announced plans the launch of a promotional anime streaming service. Beginning in late March, Bandai Visual will host the entire first episode of its "Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time - A Tale of the Eight Guardians" for free online viewing for North American viewers. Free sample episodes of True Tears, Shigofumi, and Sola are also planned for the future.
Pop Japan Travel to Help Americans Sell Doujinshi in Japan
Pop Japan Travel has announced its "Mind Over Manga" package tour of Tokyo, Japan. The guided tour will include attendance at the August Comitia doujinshi (amateur comics) convention, along with an exclusive visit to a prominent Tokyo anime production studio, the Ghibli Museum, and other Tokyo landmarks. For the first time ever, the "Mind Over Manga" tour will offer participants with the opportunity to participate in the Comitia convention as a seller. For qualifying participants, Pop Japan Travel will:Translate your book into Japanese so that the locals can understand itPrint your book and deliver it directly to the event at Tokyo Big SightHelp you sell your book and discuss it with readers at a booth at the eventThe summer Comitia convention is scheduled for August 24th. The "Mind Over Manga" tour will run from August 21 to 28.
Posted By: Nightroad
