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Naruto, Bleach & Death Note publisher creates prod. company

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Jul 182008

Looks like we’re going to see a flood of new movies based on Naruto, Bleach, Death Note and more.

Japanese manga and graphic novel publisher VIZ Media is starting a production company to create films from their catalogue, including NARUTO, BLEACH and DEATH NOTE, per VARIETY.

Jason Hoffs, former production exec at Amblin and DreamWorks, will head up the company, based in Hollywood.

Japanese publishing houses Shogakukan, Shueisha and Hakusensha are the parent companies. Those three publish almost half of all manga that comes to the U.S.

Hoffs will be a mediator between the creative licensors in Japan and Hollywood, with VIZ Prods. to develop some titles in house.

“Properties like NARUTO, BLEACH, DEATH NOTE, VAMPIRE KNIGHT and MONSTER are just a few properties that show the massive appeal of manga to many different demographics, and we have an almost endless pool of titles to draw from,” Hoffs said to VARIETY.

VIZ is just one of many publishing companies taking the Japanese example and setting up production pipelines for their own content. Newspaper giant THE NEW YORK TIMES and videogame company Capcom have also recently announced film projects.

Nike Labs Tokyo spot - "Spider"

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Jul 142008

Found this on FEED this morning. A very cool spot created for Wieden+Kennedy Tokyo. Click on the image to head over to Nike Labs and check out the spot.

Japan Expo - Paris

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Jul 082008

Until watching this video, I had no idea that France was the 2nd largest consumer of manga in the world. Omoshiroi!

Right Stuff Anime Expo Announcement

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Jul 082008

RIGHT STUF & NOZOMI ENTERTAINMENT Announce
GAKUEN ALICE, TOWARD THE TERRA Movie & Upcoming Releases
Anime Expo 2008: New license announcements, preview of 21st year

GRIMES, IA, July 4, 2008 – Anime producer and distributor Right Stuf, Inc. and Nozomi Entertainment started the company’s 21st year with a bang by making several announcements during its July 4th panel at Anime Expo 2008. Right Stuf President and C.E.O. Shawne Kleckner revealed the acquisition of theGAKUEN ALICE television series, the first-ever North American DVD release of the classic TOWARD THE TERRA movie, a remastered re-release of THE IRRESPONSIBLE CAPTAIN TYLOR, and additional details about future releases for several ongoing series, including EMMA: A VICTORIAN ROMANCE, MARIA WATCHES OVER US and ARIA.

GAKUEN ALICE

Right Stuf and Nozomi Entertainment announced its license for GAKUEN ALICE, as well as plans to release the series in a single DVD box set – with Japanese audio and English-language subtitles – during 2009. A comedy with supernatural and magical elements, the series chronicles the adventures of Mikan, a spunky and excitable 10-year-old, as she runs away from home and follows her genius best friend to a mysterious Tokyo school for students with exceptional abilities and gifts.

This 26-episode adaptation of Tachibana Higuchi’s ongoing manga features direction by Takahiro Omori (Baccano!, Hell Girl) and aired on Japan’s national NHK television network. (Savvy fans will also notice “Mikan,” the series’ pig-tailed heroine, is portrayed by Kana Ueda, the voice of “Yumi” in Maria Watches Over Us, “Rin” in Fate/stay Night and “Hayate” in Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A’s.)

The original manga is currently serialized in Japan’s Hana to Yume girls’ manga magazine, where it has appeared alongside titles including Fruits Basket, Hana-Kimi, Skip Beat! and Special A since its 2003 debut. The Gakuen Alice manga is published in North America by TOKYOPOP.

Visit gakuenalice.rightstuf.com for more information about Gakuen Alice and to pre-order the box set.

TOWARD THE TERRA Movie

In response to fan requests, Right Stuf and Nozomi announced the first-ever North American DVD release of the TOWARD THE TERRA movie. (Right Stuf had previously released the title on VHS and laserdisc.) This classic film adaptation of Keiko Takemiya’s ground-breaking, science-fiction manga was produced by Toei Animation and is a forerunner to the Toward the Terra TV series, soon-to-be released by Bandai Entertainment. Takemiya’s original manga, known as To Terra (Terra e…), is published for English-speaking audiences by Vertical, Inc. The new DVD release will feature Japanese audio and English-language subtitles.

The Toward the Terra movie depicts a future where mankind’s seemingly utopian society is strictly controlled by the government, which ruthlessly suppresses anything that threatens to disrupt the status quo. When 14-year-old Jomy begins to question the way the society is run, he suddenly becomes a target for both the government and the Mu, an outcast race that possesses extra-sensory abilities and has been fighting against the government for generations. Now, each group is determined to hunt him down – one to kill him and the other to save him.

Visit terra.rightstuf.com for more information about the Toward the Terra movie and to pre-order the DVD.

Remastered IRRESPONSIBLE CAPTAIN TYLOR

Nozomi Entertainment has plans to revisit another fan favorite from the Right Stuf catalog, with upcoming re-releases of THE IRRESPONSIBLE CAPTAIN TYLOR. The television series and OVAs (original video animation) each will be re-released as bilingual, thinpak-style box sets that utilize remastered video footage from the Japanese DVD release and feature “soft subtitles.”

As a service to fans who purchased the “Ultra Edition” versions of these releases, Right Stuf will offer a trade-in program, with details to be announced in the future.

Proclaimed one of the “50 best anime of all time” by Anime Insider, The Irresponsible Captain Tylor is based upon a series of novels by Hitoshi Yoshioka and features direction by Koichi Mashimo (Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE, Noir, Sorcerer Hunters). The English dub stars Crispin Freeman as “Captain Justy Ueki Tylor,” Lisa Ortiz as “Azalyn,” Rachael Lillis as “Yuriko Star,” Carol Jacobanis as “Harumi Nakagawa,” David Brimmer as “Lt. Makato Yamamoto” and Veronica Taylor as “Shia Has.”

Visit www.tylor.com for information about The Irresponsible Captain Tylor and for details about the re-releases and trade-in program, as they are made available.

Additional Release Dates & Info for EMMA – Season 2, MARIA WATCHES OVER US, ARIA & Merchandise

Finally, Kleckner revealed release dates and additional details for several ongoing and upcoming series:

- The EMMA: A Victorian Romance – Season 2 DVD Collection is scheduled for release on October 28, 2008. This second box set will include the 12 episodes of the series’ “Second Act,” plus “Episode 0: Intermission,” a recap/preview released prior to the start of the Season 2 telecast in Japan.

As with the first season set, the first 1,000 anime fans to pre-order the Season 2 box set from RightStuf.com will be recognized in a “special thanks” section of the DVD credits for the set.

Visit emma.rightstuf.com for more information about Emma: A Victorian Romance and to pre-order the Season 2 DVD Collection.

- The MARIA WATCHES OVER US (Maria-sama ga Miteru) Season 1 DVD Collection was previously announced to street on July 29, 2008, and while supplies last, fans who pre-order the box set directly from RightStuf.com will receive a Lillian Girls’ School/ Chinesis Family cell phone charm. (The box sets for future seasons will also have similar “pre-order direct” special offers.)

The Maria Watches Over Us – Season 2 DVD Collection, featuring the second television season, is currently scheduled for late Fall 2008. The third box set will follow in 2009.

Right Stuf and Nozomi will be collecting fans’ questions for an interview with Maria Watches Over Us creator Oyuki Konno. Look for details to be announced post-Expo.

Visit mariasama.rightstuf.com for more information about Maria Watches Over Us (Maria-sama ga Miteru).

- The ARIA THE ANIMATION DVD Collection is scheduled for release on September 30, 2008, and it will have a special “pre-order from RightStuf.com” offer.

Additional DVD releases for ARIA are scheduled for early 2009.

Visit aria.rightstuf.com for more information about Aria the Animation and to pre-order the box set.

- Nozomi also has plans to release new shirts and apparel featuring artwork from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, several FUNimation properties (Hell Girl, Mushi-shi, School Rumble and more), Gravitation and Ninja Nonsense (Ninin ga Shinobuden), plus a new line of original designs that includes the previously announced Otaku Collegiate and the soon-to-be-announced Sounds of the Samurai collections.

火垂るの墓 - Grave of the Fireflies live action movie

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Jul 022008

http://hotarunohaka.jp/

If you have never seen the original anime “Grave of the Fireflies”, I strongly urge you to buy, borrow or rent it ASAP. It is one of the best animated films ever made. The live action remake looks like it’s following the anime storyline and if I were in Japan, I’d be heading to see it this weekend. It premiers on July 5th.

I think the anime and the film give a pretty accurate portrayal of what life was like at the end of WWII in Japan.

Anime Voice Acting Lessons - Anime Expo 2008

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Jun 262008

If you’re planning on attending the Anime Expo in LA from July 3-6th, you may want to check out the free voice acting workshops they will be offering.

From AWN.com:

This year, Anime Expo has teamed with Bang Zoom! Ent. to offer free voice acting workshops at Anime Expo 2008. In celebration of Bang Zoom! Ent.’s new DVD release of ADVENTURES IN VOICE ACTING Volume One, there are scheduled one hour free classes that will give participants a taste of voice acting with insiders’ tips, general discussions and chances to dub with a professional audio engineer.

Anime Expo 2008 will be held from July 3-6, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California, USA. More information can be found on the website www.anime-expo.org.

Participants will gain insights into practical dubbing techniques; be able to interact with accomplished figures in the industry and have the opportunity to ask questions within an intimate setting. Several attendees who register early may even be able to perform live! The workshops will be held throughout all four days of the convention with limited spaces available for attendees. To pre-register and obtain more information, please go to Bang Zoom! Ent.’s Exhibit Hall booth (#811) at this year’s Anime Expo 2008.

The ADVENTURES IN VOICE ACTING DVD, exclusively available for purchase at the Bang Zoom booth, is the perfect companion for aspiring voice actors who are interested in these workshops. The Adventures in Voice Acting DVD is an episodic view into the world of voice artistry. Aspiring voice actors and enthusiasts interested in voice acting get advice and perspective from pros such as Tom Kenny (SPONGE BOB SQUARE PANTS), Michelle Rodriguez (LOST), Lance Henricksen (ALIENS), Wendee Lee, Steve Blum and many more. Never before documented, professional voice artists share personal stories, struggles, successes and practical tips on what it takes to make it in this competitive business.

The full list of official Anime Expo 2008 Guests of Honor include up and coming director Masahiro Ando, legendary American voice actor David Hayter, famed POKEMON director Masamitsu Hidaka, the dynamic duo known as Jyukai, renowned animator Hiromi Kato, celebrated veteran voice actor Toshihiko Seki, the new Japanese “It-Girl” Shokotan and the legendary character designer Takada Akemi.

Attendees that have pre-registered can also update their information and add on orders for main event tickets via the Anime Expo 2008 Online Registration Area at www.anime-expo.org.

Free shuttle services for all hotel attendees will be provided. Regular non-hotel attendees will have access to utilize the free shuttle services during designated hours as well. All schedules and routes will be posted in the lobby of each shuttle hotel. Frequency of service is pending local traffic, road conditions and can change without notice. Also, no shuttle service provided to the Holiday Inn City Center and the Figueroa Hotel (both are within walking distance of the Los Angeles Convention Center)

"Safe" Japan - 7 people killed in Akihabara

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Jun 092008

Most anime otaku know about Akihabara. It’s otaku heaven – between the electronics, anime, maid cafe’s and stores selling things related to all of the above, you can’t go wrong in Akihabara.

And most of us know that statistically Japan is incredibly safe. But then you read articles like this one that remind you nowhere is 100% safe.

From Khabrein.info:

TOKYO, June 8 (KUNA) — Seven people were killed and 11 others were wounded Sunday in central Tokyo after a man hit pedestrians with a truck and stabbed them with a knife.

The incident took place around 12:30 p.m. (03:30 GMT) in the Akihabara district, a busy shopping area known as “electric town” and a center of Japanese subculture, which are popular among young people, comic and animation fans as well as foreign tourists.

Police arrested the man, 25-year-old Tomohiro Kato from Shizuoka Prefecture, eastern Japan, and seized a survival knife he was carrying.

Kato told police that he came to Akihabara to kill people. “I am tired of the world. It didn’t matter whom I would kill,” he said, according to a police spokemsan.

According to witnesses, Kato ran away from his truck after hitting several pedestrians and started stabbing people at random.

The Akihabara attack occurred on the seventh anniversary of a stabbing spree by a man at Osaka’s elementary school in 2001, which left eight children dead.

Modeling a cute anime monster in 3D

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Jun 062008

A timelapse of Japanese designer Hiroshi Yoshii creating a cute anime monster in 3D. If you’ve ever been interested in working in anime in Japan, pay attention!

VUDU now has anime in Japanese!

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May 262008

I’m not a huge Apple fanboy like a lot of folks these days. I have an iPod and Hitomi has an iPhone, but other than that we’re Apple-free here. I always thought the AppleTV sounded like a great idea, but it’s been implemented in a terrible way. So, instead I got a Vudu, which is very similar to the AppleTV except for two major differences: 1. the movies, TV shows, and even HD movies, play instantly – there’s no waiting for the downloads. 2. there’s about 5X as much content on the Vudu as there is on AppleTV.

The biggest drawback so far is the selection of Japanese language films & TV shows was pretty lackluster. They have a few movies, certainly more than you’ll find in your local rental store, but nothing in the way of OAVs or TV shows. Well, tonight I checked the catalog and to my surprise found “Ramen Fighter Miki” as one of the TV shows available.

My biggest concern was this: DUBBED or SUBBED? And, the answer is a good one – it is subtitled!

I know absolutely nothing about this anime. I just purchased the first episode and came in to write this post. If you care to share anything about the series, please comment.

Great job Vudu! If you’ve been thinking of getting an AppleTV, give Vudu a shot and support their Japanese-language programming! If they see a demand for it, we’ll see more and more anime available.

I’m off to watch some anime!

Mach Go Go Go becomes Speed Racer

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May 162008

CGSociety author Renee Dunlop has an excellent article on what it took to convert the anime “Mach Go Go Go” into the live action spectacle “Speed Racer”. If you have any interest in visual effects or animation, click on the image below to read her article and view plenty of behind-the-scenes videos: