Tagged: Japan

‘Eureka Seven’ Gains Anime Feature for Golden Week

‘Eureka Seven’ Gains Anime Feature for Golden Week

  • News
  • December 15, 2008

The Eureka Seven anime series will spawn a feature, Symphonic Poem Eureka Seven: Pocket Full of Rainbows, which will be broadcast in Japan during their Golden Week, holidays that occur between April and May.

The 50 episodes, known as Psalms of Planets Eureka Seven,  initially ran from April 17, 2005 through April 2, 2006 and spawned a manga series in addition to three video games.  Interestingly, two of the games served as prequel stories to the mecha series. The story has also been serialized over four prose novels.

Produced by Studio Bones, the story is about sky-surfing robot/mechas with a poignant romance and aired in America on Cartoon Network. Home video editions were released by Bandai Entertainment.

 

Manga Friday: Games & Doctors & Sex

Manga Friday: Games & Doctors & Sex

  • News
  • December 12, 2008

It’s getting harder and harder to find books for this column that go together in any meaningful way. And how do I deal with that problem? Why, by utterly ignoring the problem and throwing together whatever books happen to be lying around. Here, I’ll show you how that works…

Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning, Vol. 5
Story by Kyo Shirodaira; Art by Eita Mizuno
Yen Press, October 2008, $10.99

For the long version of the backstory of this series, see my earlier reviews of Vol. 4, Vol. 3, and Vol. 2.

The short version: there are “Blade Children” – teenagers who were abducted and had a rib removed (and probably had other things done to them, starting with psychological conditioning), and who form some kind of secret society. And there’s a teenage boy who is almost always called “Little Brother” – by people who are not, in any way, related to him, and because his now-vanished older brother was a genius, special and wonderful and better than his little brother ever could be in every way imaginable – who keeps getting caught up in their convoluted schemes, which generally involve logical puzzles, death traps, and lots of posturing about who is smarter than whom.

At this point, it’s becoming clear that the Blade Children have serious divisions in their ranks, since one group of BCs is sending an assassin against the local Japanese BCs that we’ve been watching torment – and be defeated by – Little Brother repeatedly over the last few books. (Of course, as is typical in modern manga for teenagers, everyone who matters in the entire world is a teenager.)

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Viz Reveals 4th Quarter 2008 Releases

Viz Reveals 4th Quarter 2008 Releases

  • News
  • November 30, 2008

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), has announced several eagerly awaited new manga series scheduled for release throughout the Fourth Quarter of 2008.

Seven new series are set to debut, beginning this month, and feature a variety of captivating stories designed to appeal to Teen and Older Teen readers. The new series include BLANK SLATE, NORA: THE LAST CHRONICLE OF DEVILDOM, SOLANIN, CAPTIVE HEARTS, GABA KAWA, WE WERE THERE and ST. ♥ DRAGON GIRL.

“We are looking forward to bringing a diverse range of titles in Q4 which will range from slice-of-life stories to romance and more!” says Evelyn Dubocq, Sr. Director of Public Relations, VIZ Media. “As the 2008 holiday season approaches, manga fans will have multiple strong VIZ Media releases to choose from in every genre.”

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Sony to Distribute Japans’ Marvel Heroes

Sony to Distribute Japans’ Marvel Heroes

  • News
  • November 25, 2008

To handle international properties for worldwide distribution, Sony has created the Intl. Product Expansion Group according to Variety.

Tony Ishizuka will serve as Vice President of the unit. T. Paul Miller, senior VP of international for home entertainment said the “goal is to recoup its investment in each project in the country in which it was produced or acquired. The unit will then assess each title’s prospects for distribution on home entertainment in other markets.”

A deal has already been signed with Japan’s Madhouse which will involve the previously announced deal to produce Easternized versions of Marvel’s heroes. The shows will be broadcast in Japan on the Animax TV network and then be handled worldwide by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Originally designed as animated fare, the long-range plans call for the Marvel Japanese Universe to be found on mobile devices and comic books.

The first characters to undergo transformation will be Iron Man and Wolverine in thirty-minute anime intended for Japanese television in 2010.

Madhouse was founded in 1972 and is seen as a creative powerhouse in Asia, perhaps best known for its Vampire Hunter D.

Miyazaki’s ‘Ponyo’ Likely Here in April

Miyazaki’s ‘Ponyo’ Likely Here in April

  • News
  • November 25, 2008

Surfing Amazon’s listing can make one feel like an archaeologist as people pour through the advance listings to see what trade collections are coming from the various publishers. ICv2 did some spelunking and came up with a number of books based on Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo on a Cliff By the Sea, which outperformed The Dark Knight in Japan this summer.

Viz Media’s The Art of Ponyo on a Cliff By the Sea is listed for release on March 3 while AAA Anime has picked an April release for the first volume of the comic based on the film. As a result, the presumption is the film will be in release during the Easter season when schools take a break and kids need something do. IMDB has no listing for a domestic release but it does open throughout Europe in April.

Ponyo is the name of a princess goldfish who desires to be human.  When washed up on the shore, Ponyo befriends a 5-year-old boy and all seems swell until the fish’s father summons the sea to help find his missing child.

Crunchyroll Adds 2 New Shows in January

Crunchyroll Adds 2 New Shows in January

  • News
  • November 24, 2008

Crunchyroll, a website offering anime on line, has announced a January 8 debut for the latest episodes from the shojo anime series Skip Beat and Shugo Chara. Subscribers  will be able to watch these along with the previously announced episodes of Naruto as part of their deal with TV Tokyo.

According to ICv2, Skip Beat is produced by Hal Film Maker, which debuted in Japan on October 5.  “It is based on the Manga by Yoshiki Nakamura about a 16 year-old girl who gets revenge on her pop idol boyfriend by becoming a bigger star herself.  The Skip Beat Manga is published here by Viz Media.”

The Shugo Chara anime, which “is based on the magical girl Manga created by Peach-Pit (published here by Del Rey), debuted in October of 2007.  A second season, Shugo Chara!! Doki, debuted on October 10, and will likely provide the ‘newest episodes’ of Shugo Chara promised by Crunchyroll.”

Naruto Ramps Up Schedule

Naruto Ramps Up Schedule

  • News
  • November 19, 2008

VIZ Media, LLC has announced an innovative and unprecedented multimedia plan to provide near-simultaneous Japan-US. release of Naruto, one of the most popular Japanese animated and Manga properties in the world. This campaign is the latest expansion of VIZ Media’s ongoing strategy to utilize the web to its maximum potential to stream a variety of hit animated properties.

Beginning on January 15th the latest episode of the Naruto Shippuden (English-subtitled) animated series will be available for free viewing on the ultimate destination for anything Naruto – the official NARUTO website, www.naruto.com, within days of its original airdate in Japan. A new English-subtitled episode will be added every Thursday thereafter.

On January 2, 2009 VIZ will also debut, for free, eight uncut, English-subtitled episodes from the beginning of the Naruto Shippuden series on their website. Each Friday thereafter there will be an additional eight uncut, English-subtitled episodes added on the site until the series eventually catches up to the current third season of the hit program.  Also, coming this week, an exclusive sneak peek of Naruto Shippuden (English-subtitled) debuting on Naruto.com.

On the Manga side, VIZ has accelerated their publishing schedule for upcoming editions of the best-selling series, making them available to North American audiences sooner than ever before. Beginning in February 2009, 11 new volumes of Naruto will be released over three months, moving the series from Volume 34 (February 2009) to Volume 44 (April 2009) before returning to a quarterly release schedule beginning with Volume 45 (July 2009). First print-run editions of the volumes released in March and April will include a special promotional item – a bookmark or sticker.

“This kind of accelerated and coordinated broadcast and publishing schedule is a first for VIZ Media and we are very excited to bring new episodes of Naruto Shippuden to millions of eager domestic fans for free with this special campaign,” Alvin Lu, Vice President of Production, VIZ Media said in a release. “The adventures of Naruto and his friends are underscored with themes of friendship, loyalty, responsibility, as well as failure and redemption, and have turned this unique series into a tremendous international hit. New and old fans alike won’t want to miss this special opportunity to watch online the latest episodes featuring the world’s favorite ninja mere days after their original air dates in Japan.”
 

Latest Manga Releases

Latest Manga Releases

VIZ Media has announced the upcoming release of a special Bleach Posterzine, which features 11 massive full-color posters inspired by the smash hit Manga and animated series created by Tite Kubo. The title will be released December 2, retailing for $9.99 with two original creations made especially for this unique release. Each poster in the collection folds out to 16” x 22” and depicts the heroic Soul Reaper Ichigo and his friends as well as villains rendered in beautiful detail. This special publication will also include 2 free Bleach sticker sheets and an iTunes gift card valid for a free download of episode 59 of the popular Bleach animated series and access to an interview with the creator of Bleach Tite Kubo.

Bleach follows the story of Ichigo Kurosaki, a fifteen-year old student with the ability to see ghosts. His fate takes an extraordinary turn when he meets Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper who shows up at Ichigo’s house on the trail of a Hollow, a malevolent lost soul.  Drawn to Ichigo’s high level of spiritual energy, the Hollow attacks Ichigo and his family, and Rukia steps in to help but is injured and unable to fight.  As a last resort, Rukia decides to transfer part of her Soul Reaper powers to Ichigo. Ichigo, now a full-fledged Soul Reaper, and Rukia join together to face the challenges that lie ahead.

Christopher Boily, VIZ Media Sr. Director, Magazine Sales, Brand & Product Marketing, said in a release, “Building upon the incredible momentum and excitement which surrounded the first ever North American appearance of creator Tite Kubo at San Diego Comic-Con, we’re ecstatic to release this special collectable Bleach Posterzine, which features two amazing images created exclusively for this publication by Studio Pierrot, which animates and produces the massively popular animated series. We look forward to fans visiting their local newsstand to pick up this special release!”

Aurora Publishing has announced two new josei/shojo fantasy Manga to debut during the first quarter of 2009.  Tengu-jin ($10.95, 160-pages) by Sumomo Yumeka, will be a one-volume Manga released in February containing two fantasy stories, one set in a future Japan that has split apart into two warring factions, and the other in a feudal kingdom.

Then in March will be the first book in the two-volume series of Chika Shioma’s Queen of Ragtonia ($10.95, 160-pages). Princess Faruna is the last hope of her kingdom when it is attacked by evil sorcerers in this action-packed fantasy series.
 
Both Tengu-jin and Queen of Ragtonia were published in Japan by Shodensha (Paradise Kiss, Happy Mania, Suppli).

 

‘Strait Jacket’ to Make Domestic Debut on DVD

‘Strait Jacket’ to Make Domestic Debut on DVD

  • News
  • September 8, 2008

Anime fans can look forward to the October 7 release of Strait Jacket on DVD. The film, created by Ichiro Sakaki (Scrapped Princess), was a major success in Japan and comes to America with high anticipation.Sakaki wrote the screenplay for the feature, based on his original light novels, which to date have sold more than half a million copies in Japan.

According to a release, the film is about: “In a world where sorcery and science co-exist, the power of magic comes with a price: Humans who do not take proper precautions are transformed into horrific demons. Those who destroy these demons – and run the highest risk of all – are tactical sorcerers known as ‘Strait Jackets’.  But when terrorists unleash a plague of demonic carnage, the Sorcery Management Bureau must enlist unlicensed assassin Leiot Steinberg to stop the slaughter.  Even if this rogue killer and a mysterious young girl can end the outbreak, will they be able to face their own dark secrets?”

The dub cast includes Crispin Freeman (Hellsing, Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex) and Kari Wahlgren (Samurai Champloo, Steamboy).

The 76-minute film is being released domestically by Manga Entertainment Ltd. and comes with holographic “O-card” packaging and  will retail for $19.97.

Miyazaki’s ‘Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea’ Coming to America

Miyazaki’s ‘Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea’ Coming to America

  • News
  • September 6, 2008

The other day, we mentioned that Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea was wowing them in Japan at The Dark Knight’s expense.  Now we have word from Time.com that Disney will bring  Hayao Miyazaki’s latest animated film to the states in 2009. It is slowly rolling out around the world, having played the Venice Film Festival last week and will hit the UK in April.

Ponyo is the name of a princess goldfish who desires to be human.  When washed up on the shore, Ponyo befriends a 5-year-old boy and all seems swell until the fish’s father summons the sea to help find his missing child.

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