As a further update to the news that FUNimation will now be handling distribution for Geneon’s DVD releases, RightStuf has updated their listings and prices. Series stopped midway through a release are getting the earlier volumes released again. Other series which managed to finish completely or at least the first season are seeing affordable box sets. Either way, you will have a chance to pick up what you missed starting in August.
While you’re there, don’t forget to pre-order Gakuen Alice: Complete Collection and the film Toward the Terra available from RightStuf.
RightStuf announced that they will be re-releasing Tylor in thinkpak form (a great option for those that missed the Ultra editions). They will also be releasing their Toward the Terra movie on DVD and licensed Gakuen Alice to be released in a single set.
Those who have been missing Geneon will be pleased to know that the distribution deal originally to be signed with ADV has now been signed with FUNimation. That’s right, several of Geneon’s current series will be coming back including Black Lagoon, Rozen Maiden, Fate/stay night, and When They Cry. Celebrate the chance to finish collecting these series. Geneon will still be overseeing the dubbing and other aspects of their titles while FUNimation markets and distributes the titles on DVD. Many of these series were finished by their current dubbing studios last year so don’t expect a big disruption in the English cast between the previous releases and new volumes.
Finally, ADV has officially given word that Sojitz has pulled out of financially backing the company. While ADV is staying mum on what is going on behind-the-scenes until Otakon, Sojitz has transfered the rights to 32 series Sojitz financed with ADV to FUNimation to release on DVD. Many of these have already recieved complete releases while a few have been struggling to reach the last volumes (Kanon, Welcome to the NHK) or were never released (Sgt. Frog).
Originally announced in 2006, Eric Sherman and Bang Zoom! Entertainment have expanded from their planned single detailed interview documentary to a three-volume series covering anime, games, and animation. Voice actors, directors, casting producers, and even publishers weigh in on a wide range of subjects, answering both the novice and advanced questions. Adventures in Voice Acting: Volume One takes an in-depth look at the anime industry, from acting to dubbing to whether this is the right career choice for you. Oh, and it has Steve Blum acting silly and Vic Mignogna being directed on how to read the FBI warning. How can you not love that? (more…)
The third generation gentleman’s thief has returned in his first big screen, live action adventure as Monkey Punch’s Lupin III finds himself dealing with a sexy burglar, an ace gunman willing to serve him, and an inspector wanting to toss him in jail. Arsène Lupin III (Yuki Meguro; Shogun) happens to notice a beautiful woman in a paddywagon on her way to prison. Fujiko Mine (Hideko Ezaki) has her eyes set on robbing a jewelry show and this gentleman thief may be the perfect rube to help her. Add the entire Maccherone crime family wanting to stop this third-generation thief from reviving the Lupin Empire and you have just a hint of the zany plot in Discotek Media’s Lupin the Third: Strange Psychokinetic Strategy. (more…)
What was slowly becoming the US anime industry version of Chinese Democracy is about to change as Bang Zoom! Entertainment releases Adventures in Voice Acting: Volume One on DVD at Anime Expo 2008. Originally announced in 2006, Eric Sherman’s baby has expanded from a single detailed interview documentary into a three volume series with a wide variety of voice actors including Tom Kenny, Wendee Lee, Laura Bailey, Crispin Freeman and the late Bob Papenbrook. If Eric can pull it off, why can’t Axl? Check out the official press release for more details.
The Batman single DVD and two-disc collector DVD covers are online for the upcoming July 8th release of Batman: Gotham Knight.
Acclaimed screenwriters including David Goyer (Batman Begins), Josh Olson (A History of Violence) and Alan Burnett (Batman The Animated Series) join forces with revered animation filmmakers on six spellbinding chapters chronicling Batman’s transition from novice crimefighter to Dark Knight. These globe-spanning adventures pit Batman against the fearsome Scarecrow, the freakish Killer Croc and the unerring marksman Deadshot. Using an arsenal of high-tech gadgetry from Wayne Industries, Batman’s ethical boundaries exist only where he chooses to place them, leaving some fearful of his power.
July will be a busy month for superhero fans because beyond The Dark Knight material we have two more comic series coming out. The short-run network series Birds of Prey and the live action cable series Witchblade will also be hitting DVD. Birds of Prey will be in stores July 15th while Witchblade comes out July 29th.
Friends become rivals over what to do about the Dragon Torque and the young Haruka Kaminogi who carries it within her. Karasu is willing to lay down his life to protect Haruka, but would Yu do the same if he was there? La’cryma’s Dragon Knights are dwindling with each dimensional jump, Haruka is starting to understand just what power she has over reality, and Noein reappears and wants to take Haruka to Shangri-la. Director Kazuki Akane’s (The Vision of Escaflowne, Escaflowne the Movie, Heat Guy J) twisted vision of the past and future returns with Noein - to your other self: Volume 3 from Manga Entertainment. (more…)
As anyone who has caught a couple of minutes of TV time the past few weeks should know, Speed Racer from the Wachowski Bros. is in theaters starting today. I’m sure most of you will be doing the same thing I shall be doing, going to see Iron Man again and playing more Grand Theft Auto IV. At least a few of the classic volumes of the original animated Speed Racer series are on sale at Circuit City through Saturday.
El Siglo de Durango has been talking with DB movie producer Tim van Rellim about shooting in Durango, Mexico and some future plans of the film. Goku, who happens to die several times over in the animated franchise, is planned to head for the clouds once again during the second Dragonball film. The 100 million dollar film has been pushed back to 2009, but El Siglo has some behind-the-scenes pictures to get you ready for Goku & co.’s newest adventure.
Warner Bros. have finally opened an official website for their upcoming Batman: Gotham Knight DVD release. Six Japanese directors (including Yoshiaki Kawajiri) and six different stories are weaved together to fill-in some of Batman’s exploits while WB gets ready for The Dark Knight on the silverscreen. Kevin Conroy (the voice of Batman/Bruce Wayne for fourteen years) has been brought back to voice the famous title character, his first time since Justice League: Unlimited ended in 2006. Gotham Knight is in stores July 8th on DVD & Blu-Ray while The Dark Knight starring Christian Bale and the late Heath Ledger hits theaters on July 18th.
Forget waiting for the Dragon Ball Z MMORPG to be finished or spending hundreds of dollars on your World of Warcraft character because Hello Kitty is making the leap into online gaming with Hello Kitty Online. The website is currently accepting users for the closed Beta so you better sign up now because already 30,000 users have sent in their email address. Of course, I would imagine at least a few of them sent in more than one address to get in. Hello Kitty fans are hardcore for everything Hello Kitty. (If you don’t believe me, visit a Sanrio store!) Personally, I’m hoping to see not only Chococat inside, but also the roly-poly penguin himself: Tuxedo Sam.
Following up on the first set pics from the Dragonball movie, Mexico’s El Siglo de Torreon has posted up a set pic from a fight/training sequence in the film. Nothing says Dragon Ball like pink… err, light red uniforms.
HoyCinema has posted a few pictures taken by a fan while passing by the set for the new movie Dragonball. Justin Chatwin will play the role of Goku while the article mentions Emmy Rossum taking up the role of Bulma. While it’s too early to tell how it will turn out (you can guess my opinion), the fact that the writer/director is James Wong (famous for crap such as Final Destination, Jet Li’s The One, and Final Destination 3)… I think I’ll just see Iron Man, The Dark Knight, and Indiana Jones 4 a second time right now.
I bet you’re glad that the Evangelion movie is still stuck in pre-production funding hell right now, aren’t you?
Daisuke Ichijyo’s “Career Dramatic Practice” has been pretty popular with the students and faculty alike. However, his encounters with Nao, Mitsugu, and Ms. Touko in Lecture One are going to get him into some new trouble now. Nao is waiting for Daisuke at home and Mitsugu isn’t far behind on wanting another encounter with her teacher. Based on the popular Crossnet-Pie hentai game boin and animated by Milky comes Boin: Lecture Two from JapanAnime. (more…)
The trailer for the upcoming Speed Racer film from the Wachowski Bros. (the Matrix people) has been posted online as America’s possible attempt to out-camp Hideaki Anno’s Cutie Honey film. Go Mach GoGoGo so very far away because it’s way too early in the morning to see something this colorful.
Anime UK News recently published two new interviews - a podcast one with Johnny Yong Bosch, and a regular text interview with FUNimation’s Laura Bailey and Colleen Clinkenbeard.
Based on Ryotaro Iwanaga’s ongoing manga series, the aftermath of the Great War has taken a huge toll on the citizens of the Royal Empire. Former soldiers have become bandits, poverty is widespread, and food is scarce. As a proud member of the Malvin house of nobility, Alice L. Malvin joined the military to continue the family’s tradition of serving in the armed forces of their homeland. But as Alice was graduating, a ceasefire had already been reached between the Royal Empire and the Republic of Frost. Cities and countrysides alike were ravaged by the war. Three years after the ceasefire, a new war relief unit has been formed within the military. Imperial Army Section III, better known as Pumpkin Scissors, is to investigate and assist with the problems reported across the nation. But for Second Lt. Alice L. Malvin, leading the field efforts of this unit is more than just a job. Animated jointly by GONZO (Hellsing, Last Exile) and AIC (Blue Gender, Armitage III) comes Pumpkin Scissors: 1 - Honor and Blood from ADV Films. (more…)
Geneon Entertainment’s Marketing Manager Chad Kime has sent out an email informing fans that the Geneon Spot fanclub has been closed down. Included is a PDF letter from CEO Eiji Orii concerning people’s comments on Geneon’s halting of production.
“At this time, we are internally discussing plans to explore all available options to continue distribution of Geneon titles, both old and new, at a later date. However, nothing is certain at this time. We will release more information to the public once we have concrete plans, if any.
Tatsuhiko Sato has found himself in the middle of the darkest plot in the world! Well, after Area 51, the Kennedy assassination, and American Idol. The twenty-two-year-old college dropout is a hikikomori, someone with acute social withdrawal, with a growing psychosis that there are conspiracies all around him. A cute girl named Misaki Nakahara is willing to save Tatsuhiko from being a hikikomori if he signs a contract to join her project, but is any of it real? Tatsuhiko Takimoto’s twisted look at Japanese subculture has transformed from novel to manga and now an animated series with Welcome to the NHK: 1st Conspiracy from ADV Films. (more…)
If you will recall an earlier report referring to comments from Epcar and several other sources, The Ocean Group was working on a Ghost in the Shell property that was believed to be the Solid State Society movie. Well, it was close. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - The Laughing Man cuts down the first GitS:SAC TV season into a 2 hour OVA and features a brand new cast from The Ocean Group.
Now before you go grabbing your pitchforks, keep in mind that The Laughing Man is a (greatly) shortened version of Season 1. So, you’re not losing your original English cast for an entirely new addition to the Ghost in the Shell saga. Instead, you gain an interesting second look at Season 1 and something on DVD that isn’t just TV episodes with a few new lines of dialogue added. The Laughing Man hits stores October 2nd in a 2-Disc set.
