Anime News (245)
The Apple iPad has received a lot of mixed attention with its recent release, but what happens when one falls into the hands of famed illustrator and character designer Yoshitoshi ABe? He doodles a masterpiece using only his fingertip! ABe recorded a video himself on his blog sketching the image using the Live Sketch app which can be viewed inside. ABe is probably best known for his work on Serial Experiments Lain, NieA_7, Haibane Renmei, Texhnolyze and the upcoming new series Despera.
Last week at the Tokyo Anime Fair, Toei Animation made the announcement of a CG movie remake of the 1970s mech anime series Gaiking with a short clip at their booth. The trailer has been made available online and we have included it inside. Jules Urbach, a developer of the computer graphic tool Light Stage used in James Cameron's 2009 Avatar film, and director Mattew Gratzner worked on the trailer together. The movie is currently planned to be released sometime in or after 2012 worldwide. More information including characters who will appear in the film will apparently be revealed at this year's San Diego Comic-Con International.
Manga series Nurarihyon no Mago has been announced for an anime adaptation planned to be aired in July 2010. The series follows 13 year old Rikuo Nura whose grandfather is the current Master of Yokai in modern day Japan. Rikuo being a quarter yokai, initially rejects the idea of succeeding his grandfather; however, as events unfold, Rikuo must balance his daily life and forces that threaten the people he cares about.
Animation work will be handled by Studio Deen who has worked on various other series such as Fate/stay night, and Higurashi no Naku Koro ni. The anime will feature an all star cast of voice actors including Jun Fukuyama (probably best known for voicing Lelouch Lamperouge from Code Geass,) Yui Horie, and Aya Hirano, famed for her voice work as Haruhi Suzumiya.
In an odd twist, video game publisher NIS America, has sent us information that they will be now licensing anime to the United States starting with the highly successful high school romance comedy Toradora!, Persona ~Trinity Soul~, Pandora Hearts, and Our Home's Fox Deity. NIS America has been well known to cater to their customers in terms bonus goods and promises to release their titles with collector's items. We'll bring you more information as soon as we get them.
Update: Our contact from NIS America has informed us that their current titles will be subtitles only; however, they are definitely considering dubbing for future anime releases.
An impromptu list for the upcoming Spring anime season has been released with brief descriptions by the denezins of popular image board, 4chan. Leading the list, K-ON! returns with a second season, shoujo manga Kaichou wa Maid-sama will be be debuting this April, and Kiss x Sis which has previously been released as an OVA gets a full series.
For the full list, check inside. (Updated with an easier to read version)
Yen Press has announced that they have acquired the rights to publish the hit high school girl band manga, K-ON! coming this November, 2010. Interestingly, they have also acquired the light novel Bungaku Shoujo, expected to be released in July 2010. Yen Press has been steadily acquiring rights to publish hit series from Japan including Black Butler, Bamboo Blade, Higurashi, Kobato, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Soul Eater, and Spice and Wolf. (Updated) High School of the Dead Returns: OVA Announced
Written by Theodore Mak
Zombie action manga, High School of the Dead has been recently announced to be relaunched in the March issue of Monthly Dragon Age with new chapters as well an animated OVA episode releasing on February 9. The series has been on hiatus since the end of 2008 when author Daisuke Sato was reportedly working on another project. The series is illustrated by Shouji Sato, also best known in the doujin community as Inazuma.
The DVD of the final chapter of the two part Gurren Lagann movie, Gurren Lagann The Movie 2: The Lights in the Sky are Stars (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: Ragan-hen), will be released later this month on January 27, 2010 and major retail stores in Akihabara are offering different limited preorder bonuses drawn by the series' character designer, Atsushi Nishigori. Previously announced, Softmap will be distributing telephone cards depicting the red headed well endowed adult Yoko and Nia holding hands, while Animate and Gamers are offering posters dipicting a wedding scene. Anime chain Toraoana will be issuing a telephone card of Yoko on top of Nia with sultry looks on their faces. Unfortunately for most fans overseas, they will have to rely on Yahoo Auctions and deputy service to obtain these items.
As to if and when a Blu-ray edition of the Gurren Lagann movies will be released, is still a complete mystery. The original series, which was aired in 720p in Japan, is still only available on DVD.
Source: Moeyo
The second trailer for the upcoming Fate/stay night movie adaptation has been posted online. The 2006 anime adaptation followed the original PC game's "Fate" scenario, while the upcoming movie will feature the game's "Unlimited Blade Works" storypath focusing on the relationships among the protagonist Emiya Shiro, possible love interest Rin Tohsaka, and her servant Archer. The original game featured 3 different storypaths, with the final one titled "Heaven's Feel." With the success of the Fate/stay night franchise, it's likely that there will be a film or anime adaptation of the final scenario in the future.The film will be released in Japanese theaters on January 23, 2010. We have conveniently included the video inside.
With Comic Market 77 currently in full swing, we present to you our belated report from Comic Market 76. Comic Market (most commonly referred to as Comiket or Comike) is probably the largest fan comic event in the world attracting roughly half a million people, including ourselves. Join us on our journey to the one of the most difficult event coverage we have ever embarked on.
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Lucky fans and tourists who missed the 1/1 scale commemorative Gundam statue that was taken down from Odaiba earlier in August 2009 will get a second chance. The statue will be re-erected in Shizuoka City from July 2010 to May 2011 before being moved again. We have included a few photos and a video from our earlier visit this year of the Gundam.
With the holiday season in full swing, why not change that drabby desktop wallpaper with something more festive? We've collected a few more recent wallpapers that we would like to share with you around the internet that you might enjoy. We'll update occasionally when we find more until the holidays are over.
Update 1: Added 2 Railgun wallpapers, 1 Saki wallpaper, and 1 K-On! wallpaper.
Shonen Jump's Bakuman has been announced that it will be receiving an anime adaptation for Fall 2010. Bakuman is written by Tsugumi Ohoba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata, both who created the popular supernatural mystery thriller, Death Note. Bakuman is a light comedy, following the story of two students' journey into creating their own manga. 
We're all quite aware that apart from the economic downturn in the United States, anime has been steadily declining for quite some time. Instead of discussing the causes or laying blame on any one party as countless other individuals, companies, and media outlets have done, we have compiled an ongoing timeline of the decline on anime in the United States.