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Column by Scott Green
Digital Distribution News
Taisho Baseball Girls, Nyan Koi! and Uta~Kata are now being streamed on The Anime Network
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Crunchyroll announced a partnership with Roku, Inc. Crunchyroll for Roku to stream content to television through Roku hardware.
Crunchyroll for Roku works on all Roku streaming media devices, and works just like Crunchyroll does on the PC or other devices like iPad. Nearly all of Crunchyroll's video library, including hit shows like Naruto Shippuden and Bleach, is available in standard definition, free with advertisements for instant streaming without any sign-up or log-in. Access to high definition and premium streams, like exclusive one-week early access to Naruto Shippuden, Bleach and many others, is available to Crunchyroll's premium users. More information is available at http://www.crunchyroll.com/freetrial.
Crunchyroll has also extended their Kadokawa partnership to offer KIDDY GIRL-AND, COSPLAY COMPLEX and MUSHI-UTA
KIDDY GIRL-AND takes place 500 years in the future. In Star Year 0379, the bright and cheerful Ascoeur and the slightly more serious Q-feuille work for the galactic government known as GTO. A thrilling SF adventure brought to you with Keiji Gotoh and the staff who gave us KIDDY GRADE at the helm, and joined by the team from the up-and-coming Satelite production studio, who made a name for themselves with the TV Anime Macross Frontier.
In MUSHI-UTA, when dreams become so big and powerful that people cannot suppress them anymore, the “bugs” (supernatural beings that look like bugs) appear out of nowhere and eat their dreams. The bugs deprive teenagers of their dreams, but give them unwanted superhuman power. Now, the sacred night’s battle, bursting with the poignant and passionate emotions of the dreamers, has just begun.
COSPLAY COMPLEX follows Chako Hasegawa is a bright and mischievous girl who is in second year of junior high school. With other students, she enjoyed the cosplay club activities. But because she is not good at sewing, she can't make costumes very well. One day, a visiting student from Italy, Jenny Martel appears at the school and asks to be accepted into the cosplay club activities. Goro Bandai, who is the leader of the club, tells her that if she can beat Chako at cosplay battle, she will be admitted to the group…
Has also added GOOD LUCK NINOMIYA-KUN, MABURAHO and H2O FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND
Premium anime members and all-access members will be able to watch each series in its entirety without commercials immediately. Free users will get the first three (3) episodes of both GOOD LUCK NINOMIYA-KUN and H2O FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND, and the subsequent three (3) episodes once every week henceforth. The first four (4) episodes of MABURAHO will be available for free, with the next four (4) episodes rolling out under ad-supported streaming once every week henceforth.
GOOD LUCK NINOMIYA-KUN and H2O FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND will be available in the following territories: North America, South America, United Kingdom, Ireland, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Middle East and Africa. Whereas MABURAHO will be available in: North America, South America, United Kingdom, Ireland, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Netherlands, Portugal, Middle East and Africa.
GOOD LUCK NINOMIYA-KUN is a serious and sober high school guy, Shungo Ninomiya. He becomes an unlikely romantic hero when his mysterious older sister Ryoko makes him shack up with his sexy classmate Mayu Tsukimura. Mayu is devastatingly beautiful, but shy and innocent… or is she?
H2O FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND focuses on Takuma Hirose, an emotionally wounded boy who becomes blind after his mother died in his childhood. He moves to his mother’s home village where he enters a new school where he meets: “Hayami Kohinata” who stubbornly avoids any contact with other people, “Hinata Kagura,” who is class president and likes taking care of others, and “Otoha”, a cheerful girl who calls herself “Spirit of Time’s Sound.”
MABURAHO follows Shikimori Kazuki, a seventeen year old high school student. He attends the top-notch wizardry training school, Aoi Academy, but his grades are near the bottom of the barrel. In addition he can only use magic seven times throughout his whole life!! He will turn into dust once he uses all of his magic is gone, so he can’t even use his magic.
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VIZ Media is celebrating the season with a special Download-to-Own promotion on the iTunes Store in the U.S. (www.iTunes.com)
Until February 1st,
the full first episodes for VAMPIRE KNIGHT, BLEACH, KEKKAISHI, and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN can be downloaded for free. All subsequent episodes are available to rent for only $0.99 each, or to own for only $1.99 each.
See http://www.itunes.com/anime for more information
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To celebrate Kenshin’s 15th, Aniplex will also make the OVAs and anime series, along with what seems to be a mention of unreleased footage, available on PC, PlayStation Network and mobiles in Japan.
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Square Enix has launched of its online manga store. The launch price for the digital manga is $5.99 a volume.
Through the new service, SQUARE ENIX aims to provide a global audience with easy access to localized versions of its popular manga titles through streaming. Also, through cooperation with regional localization/publishing companies, SQUARE ENIX will endeavor to promote both print and online versions of its manga titles globally. Furthermore, it is the company’s aim for the official online distribution service to serve as a deterrent against illegal downloading and piracy.
Anchored by established series in the United States, the online distribution service will continue to provide manga titles that will appeal to readers of the region (further details outlined below). Starting today, the initial lineup in the United States will be four titles, including Fullmetal Alchemist and Soul Eater, available at the special sale price of $5.99 for a limited time. The first update is scheduled for January 11, 2011. New titles will be added bi-monthly after January.
The community services offered through the SQUARE ENIX MEMBERS website will not only allow members to enjoy manga titles, but also supply a public forum where fans can provide commentary and exchange opinions about their favorite series. The site will also have special offers where members can download free wallpapers. Non-members can get a taste of the Japanese manga experience as well through free previews of the first chapters from each of the available titles.
Payment method is credit card only.
System
Requirements Supported Operating Systems / Browsers
Windows XP / Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 or above, Firefox 3.x
Windows Vista / Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 or above, Firefox 3.x, Safari 3.x
Note: The newest Adobe Flash Player plug-in (version 10 or above) is required for all browsers.
Display
1024 x 768 resolution or higher
Internet Connection
Manga currently being offered includes
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST
Author: Hiromu Arakawa
SOUL EATER
Author: Atsushi Ohkubo
THE RECORD OF A FALLEN VAMPIRE
Story: Kyo Shirodaira
Art: Yuri Kimura
YUMEKUI KENBUN: NIGHTMARE INSPECTOR
Author: Shin Mashiba
Future Releases:
PandoraHearts
Author: Jun Mochizuki
BAMBOO BLADE
Story: Masahiro Totsuka
Art: Aguri Igarashi
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Gardena, CA (October 6, 2010) - Digital Manga announced the launch of their manga titles on the Barnes & Noble Nook and Nook Color
Digital Manga will be starting off their manga release with Hideyuki Kikuchi’s Vampire Hunter D vol.1 in the B&N NOOKbook Store. Vampire Hunter D vol.1 will be available in two parts, each for $3.99 and is available in two editions—the Nook Edition and Nook Color Edition, formatted for each device’s own screen resolution.
Hideyuki Kikuchi’s Vampire Hunter D vol.1 (Part 1 of 2) – Nook Edition
Hideyuki Kikuchi’s Vampire Hunter D vol.1 (Part 1 of 2) – Nook Color Edition
Hideyuki Kikuchi’s Vampire Hunter D vol.1 (Part 2 of 2) – Nook Edition
Hideyuki Kikuchi’s Vampire Hunter D vol.1 (Part 2 of 2) – Nook Color Edition
Hideyuki Kikuchi’s Vampire Hunter D vol.1 is also available through B&N’s NOOK Apps for the iPad, iPhone, Andrioid, and for PC.
Digital Manga currently publishes manga for the Amazon Kindle and has the first full volume of Hideyuki Kikuchi’s Vampire Hunter D for $7.95 in the Amazon Kindle Store.
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FUNimation.com has begun streaming Air: The Movie, My Santa, Rideback, Initial D: Second Stage, Black Butler ep. 1-4 (dub), Heaven's Lost Property ep. 1-10 (sub), Phantom ~Requiem for the Phantom~ ep. 1-4 and Spice and Wolf II ep. 1-4 (sub)
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Anime News Network has begun streaming
Birdy the Mighty Decode ep. 1-4 (dub)
Corpse Princess ep. 1-4 (dub)
Phantom ~Requiem for the Phantom~ ep. 1-4 (dub)
Mobile Suit Gundam ep. 1-14, 16-43 (dub)
Oreimo ep. 1-7
Persona -trinity soul- ep. 1-26 (link)
Slayers Revolution ep. 1-2 (dub)
togainu no chi - Bloody Curs ep. 1-7
Toradora! ep. 1-25 (link)
Zeta Gundam ep. 1-50 (sub)
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Super Milk Chan is now streaming on Anime News Network
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Gainax / Suburu collaberation Houkago no Pleiades will be streamed on YouTube
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the Dark Horse Bookshelf app from the Apple app store for iPhone or iPad will launch in January with the releases that include Usagi Yojimbo: Yokai
February releases include
Empowered One-Shot Special
Empowered Volumes 1-3
Usagi Yojimbo
-Issue #134
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Two chapters of Hiromu Arakawa's (Full Metal Alchemist) Raiden-18 have been posted online
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Culture clash/social discomfort comedy White on Rice is now being offered on Hulu as well as Comcast On Demand: Cinema Asian America
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Akira Hiramoto's ( Me and the Devil Blue) gag manga Ago Nashi Gen to Ore Monogatari, about a hapless shipping company manger, will e adapted into an animated series to be belived on the BeeTV
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Cartoon Network announced the launch of Cartoon Network Video, a new free video application that is now available in the iTunes store.
The app provides access to shows including Adventure Time, Regular Show, Ben 10, Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated, Destroy Build Destroy, and Generator Rex.
Cartoon Network Video is free to download, features both full show episodes and clips, gives fans access to the Cartoon Network programming schedule to see when their favorite shows are airing, and has new content being added every week.
Cartoon Network also launched a free Adventure Time app on iTunes in November, which allows fans to play more than 50 sound clips from their favorite characters featured on the show
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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherbood themes are being offered on the PlayStation Store for $2.99
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A consortium of Japanese publisher associations have issued a statement criticizing Apple for iOS apps that allow access to unauthorized digital copies of copyright protected works. The novels of Haruki Murakami and Keigo Higashino were specifically mentioned.
And the Award (or Nomination) Goes To...
The Japanese government's Ministry of Cultural Affairs announced the winners of the 14th Japan Media Arts Festival Awards on Wednesday.
Mamoru Hosoda was nominated for Directing in a Feature Production for his work on Summer Wars
Animation Division
Grand Prize
The Tatami Galaxy (Masaaki Yuasa)
Excellence Prize
Colorful
Mai Mai Miracle
"Fumiko's Confession"
"Wakaranai Buta"
Encouragement Prize
"The Wonder Hospital" (Beomisk Shimbe Shim - USA)
Manga Division
Grand Prize
Historie (Hitoshi Iwaaki)
Excellence Prize
Koko no Hito (Shinichi Sakamoto, Jiro Nitta)
Fuunji-tachi Bakumatsu-hen (Taro Minamoto)
Bokurano (Mohiro Kitoh)
Red (Naoki Yamamoto)
Encouragement Prize
Uchi no Tsuma-tte Do Desho? (Shugeyuki Fukumitsu)
Award of Merit
Yoshiyuki Kurihara (shonen manga editor)
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ASIFA-Hollywood, has announced the nominations for the 38th Annual Annie Awards. The nominees for Best Animated Feature are Despicable Me, How to Train Your Dragon, Tangled, The Illusionist, and Toy Story 3.
2010 ANNIE AWARD NOMINATIONS BY CATEGORY
PRODUCTION CATEGORIES
Best Animated Feature
Despicable Me – Illumination Entertainment
How to Train Your Dragon – DreamWorks Animation
Tangled – Disney
The Illusionist – Django Films
Toy Story 3 – Disney/Pixar
Best Animated Short Subject
Coyote Falls – Warner Bros. Animation
Day & Night – Pixar
Enrique Wrecks the World – House of Chai
The Cow Who Wanted To Be A Hamburger – Plymptoons Studio
The Renter – Jason Carpenter
Best Animated Television Commercial
Children’s Medical Center – DUCK Studios
Frito Lay Dips And Then There Was Salsa – LAIKA/house
How To Train Your Dragon Winter Olympic Interstitial Speed Skating – DreamWorks Animation
McDonald’s Spaceman Stu – DUCK Studios
Pop Secret When Harry Met Sally – Nathan Love
Best Animated Television Production
Futurama – The Curiosity Company in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Kung Fu Panda Holiday – DreamWorks Animation
Scared Shrekless – DreamWorks Animation
Star Wars: The Clone Wars “Arc Troopers” – Lucasfilm Animation, Ltd.
The Simpsons – Gracie Films
Best Animated Television Production for Children
Adventure Time – Cartoon Network Studios
Cloudbread – GIMC
Fanboy & Chum Chum – Nickelodeon, Frederator
Regular Show – Cartoon Network Studios
SpongeBob SquarePants – Nickelodeon
Best Animated Video Game
Heavy Rain – Quantic Dream
Kirby’s Epic Yarn – Good-Feel & HAL Laboratory
Limbo – Playdead
Shank – Klei Entertainment Inc.
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES
Animated Effects in an Animated Production
Andrew Young Kim Shrek Forever After – DreamWorks Animation
Jason Mayer How To Train Your Dragon – DreamWorks Animation
Brett Miller How To Train Your Dragon – DreamWorks Animation
Sebastian Quessy Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole – Warner Bros. Pictures
Kryzstof Rost Megamind – DreamWorks Animation
Character Animation in a Television Production
Nicolas A. Chauvelot Scared Shrekless – DreamWorks Animation
Savelon Forrest Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III – ShadowMachine
Elizabeth Havetine Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III – ShadowMachine
David Pate Kung Fu Panda Holiday – DreamWorks Animation
Nideep Varghese Scared Shrekless – DreamWorks Animation
Character Animation in a Feature Production
Mark Donald Megamind – DreamWorks Animation
Anthony Hodgson Megamind – DreamWorks Animation
Gabe Hordos How To Train Your Dragon – DreamWorks Animation
Jakob Hjort Jensen How To Train Your Dragon – DreamWorks Animation
David Torres How To Train Your Dragon – DreamWorks Animation
Character Animation in a Live Action Production
Quentin Miles – Clash of the Titans
Ryan Page – Alice in Wonderland
Character Design in a Television Production
Andy Bialk The Ricky Gervais Show – W!LDBRAIN Entertainment
Stephan DeStefano Sym-Bionic Titan – Cartoon Network
Ernie Gilbert T.U.F.F. Puppy – Nickelodeon
Gordon Hammond T.U.F.F. Puppy – Nickelodeon
Steve Lam Fanboy & Chum Chum – Nickelodeon, Frederator
Character Design in a Feature Production
Sylvain Chomet The Illusionist – Django Films
Carter Goodrich Despicable Me – Illumination Entertainment
Timothy Lamb Megamind – DreamWorks Animation
Nico Marlet How To Train Your Dragon – DreamWorks Animation
Directing in a Television Production
Bob Anderson The Simpsons – Gracie Films
Peter Chung Firebreather – Cartoon Network Studios
Duke Johnson Frankenhole: Humanitas – ShadowMachine
Tim Johnson Kung Fu Panda Holiday – DreamWorks Animation
Gary Trousdale Scared Shrekless – DreamWorks Animation
Directing in a Feature Production
Sylvain Chomet The Illusionist – Django Films
Pierre Coffin Despicable Me – Illumination Entertainment
Mamoru Hosoda Summer Wars – Madhouse/Funimation
Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois How To Train Your Dragon – DreamWorks Animation
Lee Unkrich Toy Story 3 – Disney/Pixar
Music in a Television Production
J. Walter Hawkes The Wonder Pets! – Nickelodeon Production & Little Airplane Productions
Henry Jackman, Hans Zimmer and John Powell Kung Fu Panda Holiday – DreamWorks Animation
Tim Long, Alf Clausen, Bret McKenzie, Jemaine Clement The Simpsons: Elementary School Musical – Gracie Films
Shawn Patterson Robot Chicken’s DP Christmas Special – ShadowMachine
Jeremy Wakefield, Sage Guyton, Nick Carr, Tuck Tucker SpongeBob SquarePants – Nickelodeon
Music in a Feature Production
Sylvain Chomet The Illusionist – Django Films
David Hirschfelder Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole – Warner Bros. Pictures
John Powell How To Train Your Dragon – DreamWorks Animation
Harry Gregson Williams Shrek Forever After – DreamWorks Animation
Pharrell Williams, Heitor Pereira Despicable Me – Illumination Entertainment
Production Design in a Television Production
Alan Bodner Neighbors From Hell – 20th Century Fox Television
Barry Jackson Firebreather – Cartoon Network Studios
Pete Oswald Doubtsourcing – Badmash Animation Studios
Richie Sacilioc Kung Fu Panda Holiday – DreamWorks Animation
Scott Wills Sym-Bionic Titan – Cartoon Network Studios
Production Design in a Feature Production
Yarrow Cheney Despicable Me – Illumination Entertainment
Eric Guillon Despicable Me – Illumination Entertainment
Dan Hee Ryu Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole – Warner Bros. Pictures
Pierre Olivier Vincent How To Train Your Dragon – DreamWorks Animation
Peter Zaslav Shrek Forever After – DreamWorks Animation
Storyboarding in a Television Production
Sean Bishop Scared Shrekless – DreamWorks Animation
Fred Gonzales T.U.F.F. Puppy – Nickelodeon
Tom Owens Kung Fu Panda Holiday – DreamWorks Animation
Dave Thomas Fairly OddParents – Nickelodeon
Storyboarding in a Feature Production
Alessandro Carloni How To Train Your Dragon – DreamWorks Animation
Paul Fisher Shrek Forever After – DreamWorks Animation
Tom Owens How To Train Your Dragon – DreamWorks Animation
Catherine Yuh Rader Megamind – DreamWorks Animation
Voice Acting in a Television Production
Jeff Bennett as The Necronomicon Fanboy & Chum Chum – Nickelodeon & Frederator
Corey Burton as Baron Papanoida Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Cartoon Network
Nika Futterman as Asajj Ventress Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Cartoon Network
Mike Henry as Cleveland Brown The Cleveland Show – Fox Television Animation
James Hong as Mr. Ping Kung Fu Panda Holiday – DreamWorks Animation
Voice Acting in a Feature Production
Jay Baruchel as Hiccup How To Train Your Dragon – DreamWorks Animation
Gerard Butler as Stoick How To Train Your Dragon – DreamWorks Animation
Steve Carrell as Gru Despicable Me – Illumination Entertainment
Cameron Diaz as Fiona Shrek Forever After – DreamWorks Animation
Geoffrey Rush as Ezylryb Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole – Warner Bros. Pictures
Writing in a Television Production
Daniel Arkin Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Heroes on Both Sides – Lucasfilm Animation Ltd.
Jon Colton Barry & Piero Piluso Phineas & Ferb: Nerds of a Feather – Disney Channel
Geoff Johns, Matthew Beans, Zeb Wells, Hugh Sterbakov, Matthew Senreich, Breckin Meyer, Seth Green, Mike Fasolo, Douglas Goldstein, Tom Root, Dan Milano, Kevin Shinick & Hugh Davidson Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III – ShadowMachine
Billy Kimball & Ian Maxtone-Graham The Simpsons: Stealing First Base – Gracie Films
Michael Rowe Futurama – The Curiosity Company in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Writing in a Feature Production
Michael Arndt Toy Story 3 – Disney/Pixar
Sylvain Chomet The Illusionist – Django Films
William Davies, Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders How to Train Your Dragon – DreamWorks Animation
Dan Fogelman Tangled – Disney
Alan J. Schoolcraft, Brent Simons Megamind – DreamWorks Animation
JURIED AWARDS
Winsor McCay Award – Brad Bird, Eric Goldberg, Matt Groening
June Foray – Ross Iwamoto.
Ub Iwerks Award – Autodesk
Special Achievement – Waking Sleeping Beauty
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Yen Press' Rich Johnson and Andrew Helfer, whose Paradox Press published Gon will be among the newly announced judges for this year's Eisner Awards
Redline recieved the audience award for Best Feature at the LA Animation festival.
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Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror film won the Jury's First Mention at the Expotoons International Animation Festival.
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"Excellent" recognition in 34th Japan Academy Prize include
Picture of the Year:
Akunin
Otouto
Kokuhaku
Kokou no Mesu
13 Assassins
Animation of the Year:
Colorful
Karigurashi no Arrietty
Eiga Doraemon: Nobita no Ningyo Daikaisen
Meitantei Conan: Tenkuu no Lost Ship
One Piece Film: Strong World
Director of the Year:
Tetsuya Nakashima (Kokuhaku)
Izuru Narushima (Kokou no Mesu)
Takashi Miike (13 Assassins)
Yoji Yamada (Otouto)
Sang-il Lee (Akunin)
Screenplay of the Year:
Masato Kato (Kokou no Mesu)
Daisuke Tengan (13 Assassins)
Tetsuya Nakashima (Kokuhaku)
Yoji Yamada / Emiko Hiramatsu (Otouto)
Shuichi Yoshida / Sang-il Lee (Akunin)
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:
Tsurube Shofukutei (Otouto)
Shinichi Tsutsumi (Kokou no Mesu)
Satoshi Tsumabuki (Akunin)
Etsushi Toyokawa (Hisshiken Torisashi)
Koji Yakusho (13 Assassins)
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:
Shinobu Terajima (Caterpillar)
Eri Fukatsu (Akunin)
Takako Matsu (Kokuhaku)
Hiroko Yakushimaru (Kondo wa Aisaika)
Sayuri Yoshinaga (Otouto)
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role:
Renji Ishibashi (Kondo wa Aisaika)
Akira Emoto (Akunin)
Masaki Okada (Akunin)
Masaki Okada (Kokuhaku)
Koji Kikkawa (Hisshiken Torisashi)
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role:
Yu Aoi (Otouto)
Kirin Kiki (Akunin)
Yoshino Kimura (Kokuhaku)
Yui Natsukawa (Kokou no Mesu)
Hikari Mitsushima (Akunin)
Outstanding Achievement in Music:
Koji Endo (13 Assassins)
Grand Funk (BECK)
Isao Tomita (Otouto)
Joe Hisaishi (Akunin)
Meina Co. (Kondo wa Aisaika)
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography:
Shoichi Ato / Atsushi Ozawa (Kokuhaku)
Koichi Ishii (Hisshiken Torisashi)
Norimichi Kasamatsu (Akunin)
Nobuyasu Kita (13 Assassins)
Shinji Chikamori (Otouto)
Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction:
Susumu Takakura (Kokuhaku)
Noritaka Chihara (Hisshiken Torisashi)
Kazuhiro Iwashita (Akunin)
Yoshiya Watanabe (13 Assassins)
Koichi Watanabe (Otouto)
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction:
Towako Kuwashima (Kokuhaku)
Yohei Taneda / Ryo Sugimoto (Akunin)
Hidefumi Hanatani (Ooku)
Yuji Hayashida (13 Assassins)
Toshiyuki Matsumiya (Sakuradamongai no Hen)
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Recording:
Kazumi Kishida (Otouto)
Mitsugu Shiratori (Akunin)
Yasushi Tanaka (Hisshiken Torisashi)
Jun Nakamura (13 Assassins)
Masato Yano (Kokuhaku)
Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing:
Iwao Ishii (Otouto)
Tsuyoshi Imai (Akunin)
Yoshiyuki Koike (Kokuhaku)
Chieko Suzaki (Hisshiken Torisashi)
Kenji Yamashita (13 Assassins)
Outstanding Foreign Language Film:
Avatar
Inception
Invictus
Toy Story 3
The Hurt Locker
Rookie of the Year:
Mana Ashida (Ghost: Mou Ichido Dakishimetai)
Momoka Ono (Kinako: Minarai Keisatsuken no Monogatari)
Riisa Naka (Zebraman: Zebra City no Gyakushu, Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo)
Kento Nagayama (Soft Boy)
Shohei Miura (THE LAST MESSAGE: Umizaru)
Takahiro Miura (RAILWAYS)
Special Award from the Chairman:
Umetsugu Inoue (director, died February 11 at the age of 86)
Tanie Kitabayashi (actress, died April 27 at the age of 98)
Takeo Kimura (art director, died March 21 at the age of 91)
Keiju Kobayashi (actor, died September 16 at the age of 86)
Katsumi Nishikawa (director, died April 6 at the age of 91)
Special Award from the Association:
Ryuzo Ueno (sword fights)
Hiroshi Kuze (sword fights)
Ryoji Matsumoto (decoration)
Nobuo Yajima (special effects)
Teruyo Nogami (Kurosawa-gumi production manager
Anime x Games
Packaging on the Ghibli animated Level 5 game Ni no Kuni
Famitsu reported that Ni no Kuni, the Level 5 game with Ghibli animation, shipped 600,000 copies
But, the same was beat in sales by Monster Hunter Portable 3rd in its premiere week 629,541 copies to 170,548
SD Gundam G Generation World fpr the Wii and PSP, scheduled for Japanese release February 24
One Piece Unlimited Cruise SP will be a port of One Piece Unlimited Cruise Episode 1 & for the Nintendo 3DS - Naruto will also be getting a 3D adaptatopm
Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan Saisen will be released for the PSP in Spring 2011 - addition screen shots
The official site has been launched
The amazingly named Prince of Tennis: Tightly! Doki Doki Survival Love Passion of the Beach and Mountains survival adventure will be released for the Nintendo DS next year
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The Pokémon Company International's new Trading Card Game Call of Legends expansion will arrive in stores on February 9th - featuring new "Shiny" versions of the 11 Legendary Pokémo
Pokémon TCG: Call of Legends will be available in theme decks ($12.99) and booster packs ($3.79).
The Business
The live action adaptation for Space Battleship Yamato opened at the top of Japan's box office, with a 528,215,150 yen (US$6.4 million) take in its opening weekend
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The full Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly has passed the Youth Healthy Development Ordinance
Anime News Network says of the bill
The current ordinance already prevents the sale and renting of "harmful publications" — materials that are "sexually stimulating, encourages cruelty, and/or may compel suicide or criminal behavior" to people under the age of 18. Bill 156 would require the industry to also regulate "manga, anime, and other images (except for real-life photography)" that "unjustifiably glorify or exaggerate" certain sexual or pseudo sexual acts. Another section of the revised bill would allow the government to directly regulate the above images if the depicted acts are also "considered to be excessively disrupting of social order" such as rape.
The assembly also approved a non-binding supplemental resolution urging newly designated harmful publications to be carefully regulated, with the work's merits based on artistic, social, and other criteria to be taken into account in the evaluation process.
The voluntary self-regulation clauses will go into effect on April 1 of next year, and the restrictions on sales and renting will go into effect on July 1.
Before passing, Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's bill to regulate depiction of minor characters in "manga, anime, and other images" already began stirring up industry controversy.
Ishihara further heated concerns with inflammatory comments.
"Anyone who claims it's not harmful to children to draw manga that features the sex life of married couples and the such are idiots. Tell them, 'You need to go cool your heads.'" Ishihara responded to the Tokyo Parent Teacher Association's December 3 petition in support of the bill by saying, “It's not just about children. We've got homosexuals casually appearing even on television. Japan has become far too untamed. I'll go forward with [this bill] with a sense of mission in heart.”
Dan Kanemitsu has translated Ishihara's comments
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is part of TAF's executive committee, and Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara also serves as the chairperson of that committee and as a response anime/manga markers have begun announcing plans to boycott the event. This includes Shueisha, Kadokawa Shoten, Shogakukan, Kodansha, Akita Shoten, Hakusensha, Shonen Gahousha, Shinchosha, Futabasha, and LEED Publishing Co., Ltd. and media company Kadokawa Shoten
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An overview of the situation with the bill can be read here
Funimation reported that they sold out of Sekirei The Complete Series at retail in its first week following its release on November 23. The title ranked #1 for new anime series releases for Nielsen VideoScan First Alert Week Ending Nov 28, 2010
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the Association of American Publishers issued a brief in favor of upholding the application of First Sales Doctrine to imported works, with implications concerns whether goods can be imported without the copyright holder's consent. The United States Supreme Court was deadlock in deciding the case.
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An update on Astro Boy animators Imagi, who lost more than half a billion HK dollars in the six months to September
Worth Checking Out...
Insight
ANNCast offers an indepth look at Evangelion with Carl Horn, manga editor for Dark Horse and a true statesman of anime & manga fandom in the US, along with Aaron Clark, noted Evangelion pundit, co-founder of Evageeks.org and founder of Evamonkey.com.
In the new Salon Futura, Jonathan Clements talks to Captain Harlock, Queen Emeraldas and Space Battleship Yamato
Yuu Asakawa (voice actress, Azumanga Daioh, Love Hina) and Patrick Macias' (Editor, Otaku USA magazine) Otaku-Verse Zero, a new English language series from web TV network K’zStation has continued with two new episodes
Updated weekly and filmed in Tokyo, Otaku-Verse Zero aims to bring “otaku all over the universe” fun and lively coverage of anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture.
Macias has also posted some outstanding Hot Tears of Shame episodes
And, Macias and Matt Alt on 2010 in Otaku Culture
Must read interview with Kinnokuman/MUSCLE's Yudetamago Shimada
Jason Gray's twittered reaction to live action Gantz - also Battle Royale's "Battle" for a US Release
Roland Kelts on Cool Japan chilled
Crossing Over- Mitsuru Adachi, Cross Game and the Problem of Genre
Jason Thompson on a personal favorite Battle Angel Alita - also, the legendarily strange dog epic Ginga Legend Weed
Masters of Manga, profile - Tokuo Yokota
Brian Ruh on NISIOISIN's Zaregoto novels - the Otaku Encyclopedia and My Girlfriend is a geek
Sci-Fi Japan remembers tokusatsu actor Shunsuke Ikeda
Jonathan Clements remembers stop motion animator Kihachiro Kawamoto and Umanosuke Iida
also, the difficulty of doing sci-fi and speaking about anime origins
MTV Geek on the Yawara Fashionable Judo Girl Anime
Colony Drop has launched their examination of anime "In the Year 2000" with
Blood: The Last Vampire
Moribito
Kaiji
Interstella 5555
Gankutsuou
Marimite
Mike Toole on the scary world of live action anime adaptations - also Christmas anime
Osamu Tezuka appreciation week on Manga Critic - including an Ayako review
The Manga Curmudgeon on Ayako
AniPages Daily went in-depth on
The History of Mutual Aid: The Story of Life Insurance
the 11 Cats - Decovocal - new Chinese indie piece Piercing
New York Press on Bunny Drop - also, Best Manga of 2010
About.com: manga on art therapy manga Genkaku Picasso
Yuricon's Top Ten Yuri Anime of 2010 - Top Ten Yuri Manga of 2010 - also, a reaction to the Tokyo ordinance
Twin Spica roundtable
another enthusiastic review of Redline
License request - Soil
Matthew Brady on Drunken Dream
Tim Eldred's Yamato part one - part two
Otaku USA on Peepo Choo 3 - Last hurrah for nerdery - also My Girlfriend is a geek
Osamu Tezuka's Ayamo
NERV Coffee
Gundam Visa
Manga author Hiroki Otsuka in New York
Kinema Junpo's Top Animation Lists
A Brief Look at TIFFCOM
Eiji Otsuka (Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service) edits book of high school students writing on Iraq war - also rakugo in Iraq
