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Column by Scott Green
10 Minutes of "Yamato 2199 - Subtitled
With a 50-minute movie edit of the first two episodes of Space Battleship Yamato 2199 scheduled to hit Japanese theaters on April 7th, ahead of the May home video release, Bandai Visual has posted a 10-minute preview of the Xebec produced sci-fi revival.
Subtitles can be displayted using YouTube's CC option
Upcoming in North America
Aniplex announced at Sakura-con that the company plans to release the Akiyuki Shinbo directed adaptation of NisiOisin's Bakemonogatari, (it's prequel Nisemonogatari recently streamed in North America).New DVD editions of Oreimo (Ore no Imoto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai/There's No Way My Little Sister is This Cute) and Kara no Kyokai/Garden of Sinners are planned on DVD.
Crunchyroll has been announced their spring streaming line-up
Kuroko's Basketball
The Teiko Middle School Basketball Team: the class that produced three perfect seasons in a row, with five once-in-a generation players, called "The miracle generation".
There was another player who all of them respected...A legendary 6th player. An up-and-coming power player, Taiga Kagami, is just back from America. When he comes to Seirin High School, he meets the super-ordinary boy, Tetsuya Kuroko. Kagami is shocked to find that Kuroko isn't good at basketball, in fact, he bad! And he's so plain that he's impossible to see.
But Kuroko's plainness lets him pass the ball around without the other team noticing him, and he's none other than the sixth member of the Miracle Generation. Kuroko makes a pact with Kagami to defeat the other members of the Miracle Generation, who have all played basketball at other schools. A battle of light (Kagami) and shadow (Kuroko) begins!”
Polar Bear’s Café - based on the josei gag manga
POLAR BEAR’S CAFÉ, revolves around a Canadian white bear that quits his boring job and starts a cafeteria near a zoo. He loves telling tall tales and always brags about himself. According to him, he was picked up by a human couple who owns a diner while he was drifting around on an iceberg. Though he has lost all contact with his Canadian family, he has discovered a new home in serving the diners’ clientele, thanks to the kind couple. His café is an embodiment of his personality. The place is always packed with many regulars, animals and humans, who are drawn by his charismatic magnetism.”
Phi Brain Season 2
Crunchyroll will also air season one prior to first broadcast of the first episode of season two
Kaito, a puzzle-loving high school freshman, is selected as a candidate for ‘PHI BRAIN.’ He and his friend Nonoha find an ‘unsolvable puzzle’ near their school. The puzzle turns out to be a life-threatening ‘philosopher's puzzle’ created by the mysterious group P.O.G. (Puzzle Of God). After successfully solving the puzzle, Kaito is designated as a Solver and is joined by other Solvers as they battle P.O.G. all over the world by solving the ‘philosopher's puzzles.’”
NARUTO spin-off: Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals!
“Watch out! This is a new addition to the iconic NARUTO franchise which represents Japanese animation. Ideal for those who are looking to stay a moment away from the breathtaking battle scenes and the serious ninja rivalry, the spin-off series offers an alternative Naruto world with all characters super-deformed and comically retouched.
A spotlight is cast on Rock Lee, the prank-loving imperfect ninja kid who scores low with ninja techniques but who never gives up to achieve his goals. Comical happenings in the ninja village in NARUTO spin-off: Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals are sure to attract a new generation of fans.”
Sakamichi no Apollo AKA Kids on the Slope - the new series from Cowboy Bebop's Shinichiro Watanabe and Yoko Kanno, based on the josei manga
In the summer of 1966 Kaoru Nishimi moved by himself from Yokosuka to Kyushu to live with relatives. Until then, Kaoru was an honor roll student who tended to keep to himself, but meeting notorious bad boy Sentaro Kawabuchi would change all of that. Through his devil-may-care classmate, Kaoru learns the attractions of jazz and finds the first person he can call a “friend”. He also discovers how much fun it is to play music with a pal. Set against the backdrop of a seaside town with a scent of American culture, this series is a drama about young people coming into their own, crossing each other's paths, and finding friendship, love, and music!
Space Brothers - based on the award winning manga
“Once upon a time there were two brothers, Hibito and Mutta. Hibito, the littler brother, had been blessed with good luck since the day he was born. Mutta, the elder, had always had bad luck. One day, the two brothers saw a UFO. This experience made them decide to become astronauts. And while Hibito succeeded, Mutta went to work for a car company. Then he caused an incident and had to quit. And then just as Hibito is about to fly to the moon...
To follow his brother Hibito to the moon, Mutta will attempt to become an astronaut at the age of 32. Unaware of his own talent, elder brother Mutta chases his dreams to get back in front of his younger brother. Believing the worlds: ‘The older brother should always be ahead of the younger one...
Tsuritama sci-fi fishing show from C -control- director and Mononoke/Kuchuu Buranko series creator Kenji Nakamura
The setting is Shonan, Enoshima. A town where the nostalgic and the fresh coexist. All his life, high school student Yuki has never had a friend of his own, because he's freakishly inept at communicating with others. Haru, a self-proclaimed alien from outer space, is trying to get him to go fishing. Natsuki is a local boy born and raised in Enoshima, who always seems to be annoyed by whatever's going on around him. Akira is a mysterious Indian boy who watches over them all, while maintaining a cautious distance. These four angst-filled teenagers meet and go fishing; and their tiny island takes center stage in an epic story... This is where it all starts - their SF (= Seishun Fishing) story!
You and Me season 2
“Friends since kindergarten and seemingly like blood brothers, YOU AND ME. follows the lives of Yuta and Yuki Asaba, Shun Matsuoka and Kaname Tsukahara; as well as transfer student Chizuru Tachibana who joins the circle of friends. Together we will watch as they laugh, dance, cry and share the memories of growing up together in everyday life.”
Upotte!! - based on the manga starring anthromorphic school girl guns
A teacher who has just transferred into Seishou Academy soon finds himself in the hospital. This is not surprising, considering his students are assault rifles! Kitsune Tennoji of EDEN'S BOY fame returns after 16 years with a surprising military comedy featuring attractive girls who are actually anthropomorphized guns! The girls are given special characteristics and personalities to match their gun types, and they spend their school days with a firearm in one hand, running rampant and occasionally shooting a boost of energy into their school life
bodacious space pirates, Fairy Tail, HUNTER X HUNTER, Listen to me, girls, I’m your father, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, recorder and randsell, SKET DANCE, and the knight in the area. fATE/ZERO and horizon in the middle of nowhere will be rejoining the simulcast lineup from the 2011 fall season
New Dark Horse manga licenses include Oreimo (Ore no Imoto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai/There's No Way My Little Sister is This Cute), Ranmaru Kotone Blood-C manga, the Evangelion: Comic Tribute anthology manga, Hiroaki Samura's Emerald and Other Stories, and Yoshitaka Amano's Deva Zan.
Discotek has continued their string of unexpected and interesting licensing announcements with the Harlock TV series and Konosuke Uda's (Sailor Moon Super S, One Piece) adaptation of Love?Com, AKA Lovely Complex.Harlock episodes 1-42 are planned for release soon in one complete box set, in the original Japanese with English subtitles.
FUNimation Entertainment announced at Anime Boston it has acquired simulcast to 3 series : Jormungnad, Lupin III and Is this A Zombie 2. FUNimation Entertainment has also acquired additional home video rights to Future Diary.
Sakuracon the company announced that it has acquired the broadcast, home entertainment, mobile, and streaming rights to 2 anime series: Sankarea, and Shangri-La. In addition, FUNimation has acquired the
Jormungand - a sibling of Black Lagoon. Both manga run in Sunday GX. Both feature heavily armed rule breakers, with their own sense of ethics. But rather than the typical guns for hire, Jormungand works from the interesting premise that its protagonists work for a multinational arms dealing corporation.
A ruthless arms dealer on a quixotic quest for world peace. A child soldier born into chaotic conflict. Their lives will intertwine as they journey together through the seedy underbelly of the world's arms market. An intense action-packed series that's sure to keep you on the edge of your seat! FUNimation has acquired both parts of the series. The first part will air April 2012, and the second part will air October 2012.
Lupin III ~Mine Fujiko to Iu Onna~- the TV series revival of Lupin III after over a quarter decade - Michiko to Hatchin's Sayo Yamamoto directing the femme fatale's youthful adventures with the Lupin III gang.
Takeshi Koike of Redline fame will serve as animation director and character designer while Mari Okada will handle the series scripting.
Is This A Zombie? of The Dead – The second season of the anime series, Is This A Zombie? Aikawa Ayumu was revived as a zombie by the cute necromancer Eucliwood Hellscythe. After the zany, madcap adventures in the first season of Is This a Zombie? ended, Ayumu thought his life might finally get back to normal, or as normal as it can be for a zombie. However, destiny has other plans for him. Some guys just can't catch a break. Watch the second season of this hilarious comedy where anything goes!
Sankarea- Furuya’s not interested in the living, he’s got zombies on the brain! When Furuya’s cat dies, he decides he’s going to try and bring it back to life. In the process, he stumbles across a girl whose failed attempted suicide has turned her into a real zombie! What’s Furuya going to do now that the thing he loves the most is right in front of his eyes? Watch what happens in this campy romantic comedy about the undead. The simulcast will begin on www.niconico.com/anime & www.funimation.com during spring 2012.
Shangri-La – A young woman fights for her life in the carbon dioxide infested jungles of a neo-futuristic Tokyo. When she uncovers a government plot to suppress the less fortunate, a battle for humanity’s future begins.
The Future Diary - This psychological thriller, based on the manga written and illustrated by Esuno Sakae, is about Yuki, a loner who's not very good with people. He prefers to write a diary on his cell phone and talk to his imaginary friend, Deus Ex Machina – The God of Time and Space. However, Yuki soon learns that Deus is more than a figment of his imagination when he makes Yuki participate in a battle royale with eleven others. The contestants are given special diaries that can predict the future, each diary possessing unique features that give it both advantages and disadvantages. Within the next 90 days, the contestants must try to survive until there is only one left standing. The winner will become the new God of Time and Space.
Online, FUNimation revealed that they will be bringing back sci-fi mystery Ergo Proxy
FUNimation also announced d its first-ever mobile application created with Phunware, the leader in enterprise branded mobile application infrastructure and experiences. The app, which is available exclusively on the iTunes App Store and Google Play, will allow users to watch over 250 of their favorite anime series and movies right in the palm of their hand!
Users can take the vast FUNimation catalog everywhere on iPhone, iPod touch, and Android devices. There are two versions of the mobile app available. The free app will allow users to view intro episodes, clips, and trailers. It will also contain commercials and banner ads. The FUNimation paid app will have a one-time fee of $9.99 for access to thousands of hours of anime, including complete series. The paid app will contain commercials, but exclude banner ads. In addition, Fans with an Elite Video Subscription can link their account to either app for exclusive content and no advertisements. The Elite Video Subscription is available for a monthly subscription of $7.95. Sign up for a free 14-day trial at www.funimation.com/subscribe.
More information about the app may be found at ww.funimation.com/mobile.
At Anime Boston, Sentai Filmworks confirmed that their home video release of the anime adaptation JRPG game Persona 4 will use the same English dub cast as was used in the game's localization.
Manga publisher Vertical Inc. has a release of Moyoco Anno's red light district period manga Sakuran: Blossoms Wild scheduled for this July. At Anime Boston, they added a big title of the "Josei (older female audience ) phase of manga evolution!!" New omnibus collections of Ai Yazawa's Paradise Kiss are planned for a fall release.
The three 300-page omnibus releases of the manga, previously released by Tokyopop, will feature new covers, new translation, and color plates.
NIS America is has announced the upcoming release release of anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day Complete Series Premium Edition, the heartwarming story of a group of teenagers and their ghostly friend, this July. The title will come complete with a collectible slipcase, a hardcover art book, “The Super Peace Buster Chronicle,” and plenty of on-disc bonus features.
About the extras—art book and bonus features:
- Hardcover art book, “The Super Peace Buster Chronicle,” (full color, 38 pages) which provides a deeper
experience of anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day with character bios, scrapbook-style photo
selections, an episode guide, rough sketches, illustrations, and more
- Episode 1 clean ending, teasers & commercials, and online episode previews
Cast Miyu Irino as Jinta Yadomi (D.N.Angel, Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE, Mobile Suit Gundam 00) Ai Kayano as Meiko Honma (Lagrange -The Flower of Rin-ne, Dream Eater Merry, Guilty Crown) Haruka Tomatsu as Naruko Anjo (Katanagatari, Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens, Cat Planet Cuties) Takahiro Sakurai as Atsumu Matsuyuki (Zakuro, House of Five Leaves, Code Geass) Saori Hayami as Chiriko Tsurumi (Our Home's Fox Deity, Heaven's Lost Property, Eden of the East) Takayuki Kondo as Testudo Hisakawa (Zakuro, Shakugan no Shana, Aria the Scarlet Ammo)
Creative Staff Director – Tatsuyuki Nagai (Toradora!, Toaru Kagaku no Railgun, Honey and Clover II) Character Design – Masayoshi Tanaka (Toradora!, High School of the Dead, Gurren Lagann) Animation Production – A-1 Pictures (Occult Academy, WAGNARIA!!, PERSONA -trinity soul-)
Preorder at select online retailers: Right Stuf, The Anime Corner Store, Anime Pavilion, Anime Castle, and NIS America Online Store.
About anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day:
Jinta Yadomi and his group of childhood friends have become estranged after a tragic accident split them apart. Now in their high school years, a sudden surprise forces each of them to confront their guilt over what happened that day and come to terms with the ghosts of their past. With their childhood friend Menma back in their lives, the “Super Peace Busters” put their personal issues aside and work together to grant her one true wish. But to do it right, they'll have to overcome years of shame, hard feelings, and heartache.
NIS also announced the high school romance kimi ni todoke -From Me to You- Volume 3 Premium Edition will be available in North America in July. In kimi ni todoke -From Me to You- Volume 3, Sawako and Kazehaya
will face more obstacles standing between them and their pure feelings. The conclusion to this sweet and sour high school romance will
be packed onto 2 Blu-ray discs and 2 DVDs. The premium edition comes in a highly collectible sturdy slipcase with the hardcover art book,
Their Memories, which is a collection of memories from the characters in kimi ni todoke -From Me to You-.
Right Stuf, Inc. and its Nozomi Entertainment announced that the DIRTY PAIR FLASH DVD Collection will be available on July 10, 2012.
Dirty Pair Flash is a 1990s reimagining of the long-running sci-fi franchise and stars younger incarnations of Trouble Consultants Kei and Yuri. This value-priced collection will contain all 16-episodes of the direct-to-video (OVA) series. It will feature remastered video from the Japanese DVD release, as well as English audio, Japanese audio, and English subtitles and on-screen translations.
The alternate-universe Dirty Pair Flash series features production by Sunrise (Gundam, Outlaw Star, The Vision of Escaflowne, Cowboy Bebop) and is the second wave of anime adaptations to star the iconic heroines of the long-running Dirty Pair novels and short stories.
The Dirty Pair’s literary adventures – written by Haruka Takachiho (creator of Crusher Joe) and illustrated by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko (character design for Mobile Suit Gundam, Gundam Unicorn) – have won two Seiun Awards for science fiction and inspired an array of media, including anime, radio series and English-language comics. The first two novels, The Great Adventure of the Dirty Pair and The Dirty Pair Strike Again, are published for English-speaking audiences by Dark Horse.
The original Dirty Pair TV series and OVA series are now available as DVD sets, with remastered video, from Right Stuf’s Nozomi Entertainment. Dirty Pair: The Original Features DVD Collection is scheduled for release in May 2012. It will include the theatrical film, Project Eden, plus two stand-alone OVAs (Affair of Nolandia and Flight 005 Conspiracy), with remastered video from the Japanese DVD release, two English audio options (the Streamline Pictures dub, directed by Carl Macek, and the ADV Films dub), Japanese audio, and English-language subtitles and on-screen translations.
Visit dirtypair.rightstuf.com to read a multi-part interview with Dirty Pair creator Haruka Takachiho, to view trailers, and to order (and pre-order) all of the Dirty Pair’s animated adventures on DVD.
About DIRTY PAIR FLASH
It’s the year 2248, and crime is on the rise. The world needs selfless, responsible heroes to set things straight… but instead it gets Kei and Yuri! These two lazy delinquents are the worst of the worst, but for some reason, the Central Computer paired them up as a team and chose them to inherit the honorable codename “Lovely Angels.” That means they’ll be sent out to stop evil corporations, maniacal killers and runaway androids – all in the name of peace. But with the way these two fight, they just might blow everything up themselves first! The complete 16-episode series!
VIZ Media announced that Sakura-con that they've licensed the trilogy of Berserk Golden Age Arc movies, with the first penciled in for Fall release
VIZ will also be simulcast streaming several titles from the new seacon of anime -
Accel World - an adaptation of the light novels by Reki Kawahara and animated by Sunrise
Synopsis:
The year is 2046. Haruyuki Arita is a young boy who finds himself on the lowest social rungs of his school. Ashamed of his miserable life, Haruyuki can only cope by indulging in virtual games. But that all changes when Kuroyukihime, the most popular girl in school, introduces him to a mysterious program called Brain Burst and a virtual reality called the Accel World.
The series will span 24 episodes with new episodes posted on a same day airing basis every Friday.
ZETMAN is rated ‘TV-MA’ for Mature Audiences, and is based on a popular seinen manga (graphic novel) series by Masakazu Katsura, who also created VIDEO GIRL AI and I”S (both published in North America by VIZ Media) and was the character designer for the hit anime TIGER & BUNNY (also available on VIZAnime.com). The anime series, presented in Japanese with English subtitles, launches in U.S. the same day as it debuts in Japan; a new episode will be available each Monday.
“ZET,” the one who is entrusted with the future of mankind. “ALPHAS,” the one who is searching for the meaning of true justice. They will be the ones who will change the world. Is it coincidence or fate that brings these two heroes together? Soon, the two will learn what fate has in mind for them…
“What is justice? What is hope? What does it mean to be strong? What does it mean to be human? ZETMAN ponders these questions and offers some surprising action-packed answers,” says Brian Ige, Vice President, Animation at VIZ Media. “Don’t miss the exciting simulcast debut, streaming exclusively on VIZAnime.com and Hulu, and tune in each week for a brand new episode to follow the remarkable changes that ensue after Jin Kanzaki meets a super-powered bloodthirsty killer!”
New Yen Press manga licensed include Thermae Romae - about Japan and ancient Rome's shared love of bathes, Kaoru Mori's (Bride Story, Emma) short story collection Anything and Something, horror mystery Umineko no Naku Koro ni, Blood Lad, Alice in the Country of Hearts: My Fanatic Rabbit, The Misfortune of Kyon & Koizumi, and Shoji Sato's (Highshool of the Dead) Triage X.
Upcoming in Japan
Akira creator Katsuhiro Otomo revealed in a long interview with Japanese magazine Geijutsu Shincho that he's working on a new shonen manga set in the Meiji era - the period after which the shogun was overthrown in favor of a restore emperor, during which Japan rapidly modernized. Besides Akira, he hasn't done a long form manga, and it's also his first shonen project.
At least in Japan, our superhero friends will be back this September in the first of two Tiger & Bunny movies, entitled The Beginning.
AKB0048 puts a sci-fi spin on the pop idol group AKB48 courtesy of Macross co-creator Shoji Kawamori
Celebrating 10 years of Naruto anime, series creator Masashi Kishimoto will be providing the story and character designs for this summer's Naruto movie, Road to Ninja.The anime film is scheduled to hit Japanese theaters on July 28th.
The YouTube channel for Nippon TV's Nittele branch has posted the most recent preview of Summer Wars director Mamoru Hosoda's latest project, Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki (The Wolf Children Rain and Snow).
The movie from "Summer Wars" director hits Japan July 21nd
Not much is known about producer Gou Nakanishi (Negima, the Love Hina specials) and GoHands' (Mardock Scramble) upcoming anime K, but the trailer does look quite nicely animated.
Japanese movie studio and theatrical anime distributor Shochiku has posted the trailer for Blood-C: The Last Dark. The movie follow-up to the CLAMP spin on Production I.G's vampire franchise is scheduled to hit Japanese theaters on June 2nd, 2012 with animator Naoyoshi Shiotani taking over directing duties.
This April, Toei will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the "Super Hero Time" TV programming block with Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen, a cross-over featuring over 40 Kamen Riders (through Kamen Rider Fourze) and over 200 Rangers (through Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters).
The release will be accompanied by a special series of mystery net shorts called Kamen Rider x Super Sentai: Super Hero Taihen – Who’s the culprit?!
Yoshiaki Sukeno's God of Povery manga will be adapted by Sunrise with Youichi Fujita (Gintama ep 100+ director) directing, Kento Shimoyama (Bleach ep 317+ series composition) doing series composition, and Kenji Tanabe as character designer.
Hit magic girl deconstruction anime Madoko Magica will be spun off into a series of movies. The first of the two films will be titled Gekijouban Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica (Zenpen) -Hajimari no Monogatari- (Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie (Part 1) -The Story of the Beginning-) while the second will be titled Gekijouban Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica (Kouhen) -Eien no Monogatari- (Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie (Part 2) -The Story of Eternity-)
alt anime block noitaminA announced a number of upcoming series, including an adapation of Wakachi's Natsuyuki Rendezvous josei manga, scheduled for July
The series will be animated by Doga Kobo (Yuruyuri) and directed by Kou Matsuo (Kurenai), who will also be doing series composition, scenario and sound direction, with character designs and overall animation director Junichiro Taniguchi (Magi Puella Madoka Magica). The cast includes Yuuichi Nakamura, Sayaka Oohara and Jun Fukuyama.
A new series based on the manga about the bacterial world Moyashimon. . Yuichiro Yano returns as director and Natsuko Takahashi handles series composition. Character designer Satomi Higuchi replaces Junichi Takaoka.
Fall noitaminA titles will include an adaptation of Robotics;Notes, the third game in 5pb's Science Adventure Series following Steins;Gate.
and original series Psycho-Pass
Jubei Ninpucho, aka Wind Pledged Samurai Beast, aka Ninja Scroll will be released on Japanese Blu-ray by Victor Entertainment and Flying Dog on May 23rd for 8,190yen ($98). The disc will feature the movie's English dub. Bonus features include a commentary track by director Yoshiaki Kawajiri and character designer Yutaka Minowa .
To promote the release, the movie will be screened at Cine Libre Ikebukuro April 14th-20, with a Kawajiri talk planned on the 14th.
High School DxD director Tetsuya Yanagisawa has signed on to helm an adaptation of Aoi Sekai no Chuushin de, a fantasy manga by Carmine from the doujinshi circle Crimson concerning a war for dominance between a pair of kingdoms representing Sega and Nintendo, featuring characters loosely inspired by the likes of Sonic, Link, and Mario.
Yanagisawa's wife, Maki Fujii (UFO Ultramaiden Valkyrie) will provide character designs. The Cast includes Okamoto Nobuhiko (Blue Exorcist's Rin) as the Sonic inspired Gear, as well as Hiro Shimono (The World Only God Knows' Keima), Suzuko Mimori (YuruYuri's Himawari Furutani, Milky Holmes' Sherlock), Izumi Kiita (Milky Holmes' Cordelia), and Takehito Koyasu (Gintama's Takasugi Shinsuke).
Eisner Nominated Manga
Comics nominated for this year's prestigious Eisner Awards were announcement. Manga included
Best U.S. Edition of International Material - Asia
A Bride’s Story, by Kaoru Mori (Yen Press)
Drops of God, by Tadashi Agi and Shu Okimoto (Vertical)
Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths, by Shigeru Mizuki (Drawn & Quarterly)
Saturn Apartments, vols. 3-4, by Hisae Iwaoka (VIZ Media)
Stargazing Dog, by Takashi Murakami (NBM)
Wandering Son, vol. 1, by Shimura Takako (Fantagraphics)
In addition, under the Best Continuing Series category; Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media) is under consideration for the award.
