Archive for July, 2009
Manga Being Considered for American Live-Action Adaptations
Revealed at San Diego’s Comic-Con, Dark Horse publishers are negotiating with Universal Films to gain the right to make a film inspired by CLAMP’s Clover. Clover is the story of a girl named, Su, who lives in a dystopian future. She is known as a ‘Clover’ one of many children who have the special ability to manipulate technology.
Samuel L. Jackson to Have Cameo in Astro Boy Movie
The newest adaption of Osamu Tezuka’s famous Astro Boy will be hitting theatres in North America on October 23, 2009 and at San Diego’s Comic-Con International Panel, Summit Entertainment announced that Samuel L. Jackson would have a cameo voice-acting role. Further details regarding the self-proclaimed manga fan’s character were not released.
Live Action Space Battleship Yamato
Announced at Otakon by Noboru Ishiguro, original director of the series, Space Battleship Yamato, the show will be seeing a revival after twenty-six years with a new anime film and live-action feature. Space Battleship Yamato, or Space Cruiser Yamato or Star Blazers, as it has been translated in the past, is the story about Earth in the year of 2199.
August September Releases from VIZ
Shojo manga, Black Bird, by Kanoko Sakurakoji, will have volume one released on August 4, 2009. Black Bird is about a teenage girl named, Misao Harada, who can see the magical world that intersects the normal realm. Despite trying to ignore her powers in exchange for a normal, high school life, she is one day attacked by a vicious demon and saved only by friend, Kyo.
Animator Yoshinori Kanada Reportedly Passes Away
From the news source, Anido, famous Japanese animator, Yoshinori Kanada has reportedly died of a heart attack at the age of fifty-seven. Yoshinori’s influential animating style, having inspired others for over thirty years, has touched some of the most well known and industry changing anime shows and films.
Anime Accepted Into the Guinness Book of World Records
An anime entitled, Soreike! Anpanman, was just accepted into the Guinness Book of World Records for highest number of characters in an animated franchise. The children’s superhero comedy show is listed with having 1,768 different characters appear on the show’s first 980 episodes. Originally airing on October 3, 1988, Soreike! Anpanman has stayed strong for over 20 years.
Second Bleach Movie to Screen in San Francisco
On August 18th and 19th, they will have the American, theatrical debut of the second feature length Bleach movie, Bleach the Movie 2: The DiamondDust Rebellion. Tickets go on sale on July 31, 2009 at vizcinema.com and fans are urged to buy their tickets soon, as VIZ Cinema is expecting it to be completely sold out for each show.
Life Size Gundam Unveiling in Japan
Yoshiyuki Tomino, creator of the original Gundam show, is celebrated this summer with a Gundam convention. The 30th Anniversary Project has been broken into three main segments, Real-G, Feel-G and Soul-G. Real-G, which happened on Friday evening at Tokyo’s artificial, was the unveiling of a 18 meter or 59 foot tall, life size Gundam, the RX-78-2.
Naruto Shippuden Updates From Viz
During Anime Expo in California, representatives of Viz announced the latest news regarding Naruto: Shippuden, the ongoing sequel to the hit manga and anime, Naruto. With Cartoon Network recently making changes to their programming by no longer licensing content and looking to develop new shows internally, they will not be airing Naruto: Shippuden on television.
Viz Distributor Adds ’20th Century Boys’ Trilogy to Sales
Written by Naoki Urasawa, 20th Century Boys debuted as a manga in 2000, winning such prestigious awards as, Kodansha Manga Award in 2001 and an Excellence Award by the Japan Media Arts Festival in 2002. 20th Century Boys’ English translation has been in America since February of 2009 and is a total series of twenty-two volumes.
Hollywood Plans Another Live Action Anime
Joshua Long, the executive producer of 20th Century Fox’s live-action Cowboy Bebop, has just announced at Anime Expo in California, that they are planning the re-make of another anime. This is a short film, twenty-five minutes in length called, Kakurenbo, literally translated as, Hide and Seek.
Embracing Love’s Last Installment Will be Published
In July of 2008, manga artist, author of the yaoi series, Haru o Daiteita, or Embracing Love in English, was accused of tracing an ad from a highly popular Italian fashion brand called, Diesel. Nitta confirmed the accusations last summer, saying that she did indeed trace the ad for the opening of Embracing Love, chapter 49, Stand on Vessel.
Anime Based Video Games Craved Outside of Japan
The popularity of the Death Note series has spread from Japan to the rest of the world, including such major countries as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia. Death Note’s renowned manga and hit anime have sparked three live-action films with academy award nominated actors as well as five video games.
Otakon’s Cast of Guests Just Keeps Getting Better
On June 29th, Otakon announced three more guests that will be joining them for the sixteenth year of the East Coast’s largest anime convention. Otakon was proud to present, Hidenori Matsubara, character designer and animator, best known for his character work on Oh! My Goddess OVA series, The Count of Monte Cristo and the game series, Sakura Wars.
