AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Discotek has announced its license-rescue of the four-episode Blue Submarine No. 6 OVA series and 26-episode Tenjho Tenge television series. Bandai Entertainment originally released Gonzo’s 1998 Ao no Roku-go OVA series in America in 1999. Discotek will re-release Bandai’s bilingual translation on domestic DVD and Blu-ray later this year. Geneon released Madhouse’s 2004 Tenjho Tenge television anime on American DVD in 2005. Discotek will re-release Geneon’s bilingual translation on DVD later this year.

The homepage for Wakoh Honna’s risqué romantic comedy manga series Nozoki Ana (Peep Hole) has added a two-minute trailer for its OVA. The anime based on the manga about a college student who discovers that he can spy on his attractive female neighbor through a crack in their shared wall will be included in limited edition copies of the 13th and final collected volume of the manga, released on February 28. A “Sexy Extended Edition” of the OVA will be released separately on Blu-ray on May 24.

Source: Anime News Network

Author Shi Nai’an’s classic 14th century Chinese novel Water Margin (Shuihu Zhuan), known in Japan as “Suikoden,” will be getting a new anime TV series adaptation titled Tenpo Suidoken Neo. The story of outlaws granted amnesty in return for working as a governmental militia will have its setting shifted from China to the Japanese town of Tonosho in Chiba prefecture.

Source: Anime News Network

Question:
Why does society consider animation childish? At the end of the day, objectively speaking, animation, Japanese or otherwise, is nothing more than another medium for artistic expression. Any idea can be conveyed or expressed, adult or childish, through animation. Akira, Graveyard of the Fireflies, Only Yesterday, and Batman: Mask of the Phantasm testify to that as they are enjoyed by adults as well as children. So why is animation only considered for children?

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Toei Animation has formally announced that it intends to release its CG animated Space Pirate Captain Harlock movie this fall. Shinji Aramaki (Appleseed) is directing this latest adaptation of Leiji Matsumoto’s original 1977-79 manga, which has had a variety of previous anime incarnations. Harutoshi Fukui, author of the Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn novel series, is composing the film’s script. To emphasize the announcement, Toei released an alternate edit of its 2010 Captain Harlock CG pilot film, this time with English language text and narration.

I’m generally not a big fan of CG adaptations of manga & anime, but I love the way this pilot retains Matsumoto’s distinctive character design style

Source: Anime News Network

The homepage for the Toaru Majutsu no Index anime franchise has added a full two-minute theatrical trailer for next month’s Toaru Majutsu no Index: Endymion no Kiseki (A Certain Magical Index: The Miracle of Endymion) motion picture. Toaru Majutsu no Index II TV series director Hiroshi Nishikiori is helming the film based on a story idea from Index creator Kazuma Kamachi. The movie will open in Japanese theaters on February 23.

Sadly, this trailer reminds me of why I like Railgun much more. Railgun has more personality and a more outgoing protagonist versus the hero of Index whose power is not having power.

Source: Anime News Network

The March issue of Ribon magazine that went on sale in Japan today formally announces the film adaptation of Emi Ishikawa’s shoujo horror manga anthology Zekkyo Gakkyu (Screaming Lessons). The collection of scary stories narrated by the ghost of an adolescent girl has been serialized in Ribon magazine since 2008. The film announcement does not specify whether the movie will be animated or live-action.

Source: Anime News Network

Question:
I love what Aniplex is trying to do license-wise with releasing titles available to the US, like Fate/Zero, Kara no Kyoukai, and Oreimo. These titles are quality shows, but some of these prices seem very high to me. The current Oreimo Blu-ray set is listed as $279, Fate/Zero Blu-ray at $329, Bakemonogatari Blue-ray, while lower, is at $150. I understand that some of these are imports, and the Japanese pricing scheme is much higher at times, but at those prices, is it really profitable in the US market? Do these items sell well here?

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Media Blasters has revealed its acquisition of domestic home video rights to the 2009 Fight Ippatsu! Jyuden-chan!! television series. The risqué sci-fi comedy from Bow Ditama, the creator of Kiss×sis, revolves around a “charger girl” from another dimension whose job is to reinvigorate depressed humans. Crunchyroll simulcast a censored version of the show in 2009.

The first episode of the original sci-fi adventure CG anime series Doukoku no Nightmare ~ Wailing Nightmare is now online with English subtitles. The original amateur created animation was rendered with the freeware MMD software program. The first episode is actually a prequel to the previously released “Episode 00.”

The current issue of Young Champion magazine reports that Koji Shinasaka’s mahjong suspense manga Tohai will be getting a feature film adaptation. The ongoing manga that premiered in 2006 revolves around a high-school boy who participates in high-stakes underground mahjong matches. The announcement does not specify whether the film adaptation will be animated or live-action.

Source: Anime News Network

A 12-episode series of 12-minute live-action episodes adaptating Yoko Nemu’s josei manga series Gozen 3-ji no Muhochitai (3 a.m. Dangerous Zone) will premiere on mobile devices on March 20. Tsubasa Honda (2012 GTO TV series) will star as a young designer working for a company that designs pachinko parlors. Jo Odagiri (Mushishi) will co-star.

Source: Anime News Network

Question:
Many of my friends in America apparently don’t get mecha series. They eith