
anime


BFI SOUTHBANK CINEMA to Run Anime Programming Through April and May
The British Film Institute (BFI) is a charitable organization in the UK, focused on film-making and television promotion and preservation. The organization maintains a library of over 11,000 titles of various cultural and historical significance. They also run the BFI Southbank cinema, which holds four screens for curated programming throughout the week. This April and May, the BFI aims to show the British public that anime can be much more than “Post-apocalyptic worlds, fetishized characters and ultraviolence…”, by promoting a special block of programming spanning the history of the genre, from it’s origination to some of the latest international hit films, and truly represents a wide variety of films that can appeal to fans of more than just action!

Netflix’s COWBOY BEBOP Streams Kick-Ass Series Trailer Ahead Of November Launch
Creating a live-action film of anything, whether it be a beloved Disney cartoon or an anime with a cult following, can be risky. Fans get very attached to characters and styles and are not always open to changes that may need to be made in order to make the project happen. Or maybe that’s just me. I have to admit that I scrunched my nose when I heard that Netflix was turning the anime Cowboy Bebop into a live-action film. All I could think of was the mess that was Ghost in the Shell. Shudder. But, Netflix has surprised me and has actually made me smile with their release of the “Lost Session” teaser.

STAR WARS: VISIONS Gives Franchise The Anime Treatment
It’s no secret that Star Wars creator George Lucas was influenced heavily by Japanese director Akira Kurosawa and his film, The Hidden Fortress (1958). But the Star Wars universe is about to come full circle in that connection with the new animated series, Star Wars: Visions.

BLADE RUNNER: BLACK LOTUS – What We Know
Crunchyroll and Adult Swim have shared further details on their project set in the beloved Blade Runner universe, to air in the fall. The series is produced by Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo), and directed by Shinji Aramaki (Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045, Fullmetal Alchemist, Ultraman [Manga] ) and Kenji Kamiyama (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Eden of the East, Ultraman [Manga] ). Sola Digital Arts is the animation studio.

YASUKE: Netflix Drops Official Teaser Trailer
When one thinks of different countries or cultures, there are certain things that are always thought of. What people most often associate with America, for example, is probably baseball and certain grilled foods like hot dogs. Whether or not people know a lot about Japanese culture, the samurai is probably most often associated with Japan. And what is better than an anime focusing on not just any samurai, but the first African samurai?

SPRIGGAN, GODZILLA: SINGULAR POINT, HIGH-RISE INVASION, YASUKE And More Announced For Netflix’s Anime Slate Through Next Year
Netflix just unleashed a wave of titles in their latest announcment of anime forthcoming through 2021. Some of these titles are continuations of others, including Baki and Transformers: War For Cybertron Trilogy, but Netflix is only aiming higher it seems.


DEEMO-Inspired Anime Film In The Works From Pony Canyon
Pony Canyon announced that it would be producing an anime film adaptation of the rhythm game “Deemo” at a panel during recent events at Anime NYC.

STEAMING PILES: Profiling The World Of Steampunk In Media
Goggles, top hats, airships, and, of course, gears. These are the things that most often come to mind when someone hears the word “steampunk” but what is steampunk actually?
Anime Roundtable: HI SCORE GIRL, BAKI, A.I.C.O. -INCARNATION-, And Other Choice Shows From The Past Year
It’s been a really slow year for me in the realm of anime, though I did manage to wrap up a few shows this year. Point in fact, I managed to finally live out the adventure that was Yu Yu Hakusho that I’ve missed out on from my cartoon watching heydays.
HAIKARA-SAN: HERE COMES MISS MODERN, A Question Of Kendo Over Kisses In The Latest Trailer For The U.S. Bound Anime Feature
Fans looking forward to a female-centric theatrical adventure with a touch of grit and romance will have something delightful to endulge in this summer. Thus, author Yamato Waki’s classic shojou manga, Haikara-San: Here Comes Miss Modern, has seen its share of evolution since gaining ground in the 70s, and favorably with a celebrate heroine at its core that ideally matches viewer interests these days per the renaissance of strong female leads.
MEGALO BOX Winds Up For A Knockout Series In The Official Trailer For Moriyama Yo’s Anime
Just in time for the 50th anniversary of Kajiwara Ikki’s classic boxing manga, Ashita No Joe, an official trailer went viral this week for Moriyama Yo’s Megalo Box which Tokyo Broadcasting System will air in April. The narrative here sets in the near-future tale chronicling the life of the stoic J.D. (a.k.a. Junk Dog), an underdog athlete competing in the underground spot of enhanced boxing through prosthetic exoskeletons.
What’s Your Favorite Anime?
Trigger
The past few years have grown on me as I’ve tried to consume as much programmimg as possible with my return to anime, especially in the wake of so many live action adaptation. Shows like Keijo, Death Parade, Samurai Champloo, Ajin, Hunter X Hunter, RWBY and Kurumanda Masami’s 1986 classic, Saint Seiya: Sanctuary, have all been okay to pass the time with, but I’ve grown into several favorites along the way.
Kill La Kill, hailed from the director of Gurren Lagann, comes first among the bunch as one of the more memorable ones for me. Aside from its seemingly trashy narrative are deeper messages with respect to clothing and the act of militarial assimilation, all that stemming from the story of a vengeful school girl-turned-reluctant savior of the world when she becomes imbued with powers on behalf of a school girl outfit manufactured from an alien thread. It’s a show that drew my interest so much so, thanks in part to the show’s jocose approach to sex and sexuality in addition to some truly amazing action and the signature sounds of vocalist Kobayashi Mika, that I even inspired Ard Vijn over at ScreenAnarchy to post about what a live-action film version cast would look like. And I believe, still, that a film like this is possible and deserves to happen. I will take that to my grave no matter what.
Equally, live-action is somethinh I could apply to a lot of animes. It recurs in my mind even further thanks to Kitoh Mohiro, whose 2003 manga, Bokurano, spawned an anime series in 2007, telling of fifteen children who find themselves lured into a plodding and emotional death spiral when a “game creator” contractually persuades them to pilot a giant, psychically powered mecha to defend earth against other sizeable threats. Both the drama and sci-fi spectacle are paced at a slowburn which would normally draw me away from any series or film unless it really intrigued me. A friend of mine named Kimmy recommended it though and I’ve been purely drawn in with each episode as we observe the intrapersonal drama between our ill-gotten heroes and their backstories leading up to their respective moments of truth, and their courage to confront not only death, but other resounding mysteries behind why their fates are locked into such a deadly fight for their planet. I’m about halfway into the show and I personally can’t wait to see how it all plays out.
TV Tokyo
There are other shows I kind of struggle with like JoJo’s Bizzare Adventure which had me starting with its Diamond Is Unbreakable arc intially. Earlier this year I tried viewing it from the very beginning and despite the catchy opening titles, interesting stories and application of various superhuman abilities, the over-the-top optics kind of exhausted me some which is why I haven’t returned to it in quite a bit. I also managed to catch One Punch Man as soon as it hit Netflix and currently sits me with the masses as one of the most fun and thrilling action animes I’ve ever seen next to The Seven Deadly Sins and Attack On Titan, both which have new goodies coming in 2018.
Last and far from least is Gintama and I’ve written a world of articles about this show since I started bingeing on it last August and ultimately finishing more tham 300+ episodes earlier this year. Inspired by manga creator Sorachi Hideaki, the series has several identities to itself, but I think it’s safe to say this show benefits from its unconventional mixture blending slaptick, fourth-wall breaking comedy with solid action and genuine thrills, often wrapped in a genuine and grounded message and touching, poignant drama that anyone can adhere to no matter how unorthodox Sorachi’s method is. It’s certainly an unabashed series that makes no apologies – unless it’s making an apology in which case you can expect that apologies to do a full one-eighty any day of the week and in which case you’re just going to have to shut up and laugh it off anyway.
Gintama, I can wholly say, is my absolute, most favorite anime thusfar and I don’t see myself getting disinterested any time soon, especially following the events of the Rakuyo Desicive Battle Arc. The live action film from director Fukuda Yuichi which focuses on the Benizakura Arc also has my interest and it’s coming soon to the U.S. following its run at Fantasia Festival in Montreal and previous Japan release over the summer.
I could go on and on (I’m keen on Naruto and One Piece but frankly we’re talking several hundreds of episodes there and I’m a little weary), but I think I’ll leave the floor to you with the aforementioned title of this piece. Sure, it’s probably a deep question but I seldom get to write op-editorials what with all the trade news I follow and I felt like blurting out some thoughts on the matter.
So…have at it! Tell us your favorite anime in the comments below!
G1! Tekkaman! Polymar! Casshern!…Get Ready For INFINI-T FORCE With The First Anime Series Teaser
Director Suzuki Kiyotaka’s forthcoming CG anime advancement with NTV series, Infini-T Force, had its roaring day at Anime Expo last month. The show itself is set to air this October in Japan in celebration of Tatsunoko’s 55th anniversary and now we have a brand new teaser to show for Suzuki’s efforts and those of Digital Frontier.
Inspired by its previous 2015 manga, the show launches a new story featuring vocal performances by actors Seki Tomokazu, Sakurai Takahiro Sakurai, Suzumura Kenichi and Saitō Sōma in the respective roles of classic Tatsunoko staples, Gatchaman (G-1), Tekkaman, Hurricane Polymar and Casshern. Rounding out the voice roster are i8 Kayano Ai, Ono, Atsushi, Yasumoto Hiroki, Daisuke Hirakawa Daisuke and Hanazawa Kana round out the voice cast.
Check out the teaser!
Overview: GINTAMA: BATTLE ON RAKUYOU Culminates With Excitement In Lieu Of An Epic Finale
Battle on Rakuyou (also known as Rakuyou Decisive Battle Arc)
CRUNCHYROLL EXPO Announced For Santa Clarita Convention Center In August!
A million strong and counting, Crunchyroll took to the masses on Thursday to announce its newest initiative for Crunchyroll Expo. More info and an attendee sign-up page can be found at the official website for the event which will debut in Santa Clarita in August but the official press release below has all the intial details you can take in…
And this with an Anime Movie Night in its wake? Amazing. It’s a great time to be an anime fan. Read on:
San Francisco, CA, February 9, 2017—Crunchyroll, Inc., the leading global destination and platform for anime and manga, today announced the first-ever Crunchyroll Expo, an extraordinary anime event that will be held on August 25-27, 2017 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. Fans are invited to sign up at www.crunchyrollexpo.com for more information, including when tickets go on sale.
Crunchyroll Expo will present three jam-packed days of anime, manga, games, cosplay, and more. Fans can expect everything they already love about Crunchyroll’s appearances at past conventions – unique exhibits, immersive activations, and access to massive crowds of Japanese and American guests. The event will also feature a host of special events, premieres, and interactive features focused around anime pop culture, the latest content coming out of Japan, and ways for fans to connect with each other to share their passion for anime. In addition to anime, Crunchyroll will bring together key partners, exhibitors, and influencers from the video game, manga, and cosplay worlds to keep fans excited and engaged the whole weekend.
“Crunchyroll has always invested in anime conventions. It’s the best way to interact with our biggest fans, and with Crunchyroll Expo, we’re taking the best aspects of con-life and going next-level,” said Dallas Middaugh, head of events at Crunchyroll. “Crunchyroll has a special relationship with our fans and we’re uniquely positioned to give back to those fans with an incredible experience.”
With over one million paid subscribers, 20 million registered users, and 800 titles, Crunchyroll is the largest online home for anime. Collectively, fans spend billions of minutes per month on the platform viewing anime content, enjoying manga, participating in discussions, and catching up on the latest Japanese pop culture news. Crunchyroll Expo will give fans a new opportunity to interact with the Crunchyroll brand and content they love.
Supporting Crunchyroll in this exciting endeavor will be LeftField Media. “At LeftField Media, we know fans,” said Greg Topalian, founder of the company. “Our team has built pop culture events around the world, and our goal with all of them is to create an environment where fans can be themselves and bond with others over shared enthusiasm. We bring this same goal to what we’re helping to create at Crunchyroll Expo.
By combining our planning expertise with Crunchyroll’s anime knowledge, we know we’ll create something anime fans will be excited about for years to come.”Crunchyroll Expo will launch in the bright, modern Santa Clara Convention Center, a robust event venue with 100,000 square feet of exhibit space and ample facilities for panels, premieres, screenings, and special events. Santa Clara itself, located in Northern California, is in the heart of Silicon Valley and a short distance from Crunchyroll’s headquarters in San Francisco.
Yeah, About That Live-Action INUYASHA Poster…
Don’t wander too far down the well with this particular find. If you’re an InuYasha fan, you might be keen on a live-action film of some kind but what you’re looking at right now is latest reveal for Kayano Isamu’s upcoming stage play for a ten-day run at Tokyo’s Galaxy Theatre starting April 6.
Check it out below!
As for the cast, that’s Golden Bomber rock band member Yutaka Kyan in costume as inspired by Takahshi Rumiko’s Weekly Shonen Sunday manga from 1996 and subsequent anime from Sunrise; The story itself sees our title anti-hero as a rambunctious and incorrigible humanoid dog and warrior whose journey to become a full-on demon sees him collide with Kagome, young schoolgirl from the future after she falls into a mysterious well sending her back in time. It is only then that her perilous journey with InuYasha finds the two reluctantly forged on their quest to recover the pieces of a majestic jewel that ultimately links their destinies while battling forces of evil in their wake.
Nogizaka46’s own Wakatsuki Yumi and Ito Junna will perform in the respective roles of Kagome and her ancestor, InuYasha’s ill-fated love interest and former keeper of the sacred jewel, Kikyo. Sana Hiroki will star as InuYasha’s bitter and powerful half brother, Sesshomaru, Takiguchi Yukihiro will perform as cheeky monk, Miroku and demon sorceror Nakaru will be played by Kimura Ryou.
More info can be read at ANN, and mind you, this is just a play and it’s not it’s first time on stage either. The prospects of this getting a live-action adaption off the ground are unknown, although Naruto did have its own play and Lionsgate now has a stake in that effort as of last year. I sure hope the play is a success though but its safe to say that the artwork sells it.
What do you guys think? Comment below!
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